Formula 1
Italian GP Minardi preview
Marc Gene: "Last week's Monza test turned out productive in terms of performance of the car which is well balanced and handles well on this track. Perhaps we still should focus a bit more on the kerbs to achieve a better set-up but I feel satisfied ...
Edited: Apr 15, 2002, 11:45 PM
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Marc Gene:
"Last week's Monza test turned out productive in terms of performance of the car which is well balanced and handles well on this track. Perhaps we still should focus a bit more on the kerbs to achieve a better set-up but I feel satisfied with the overall result. As it is always the case for us, the factor of uncertainty will be the qualifying session where we are more penalised than the other teams on the fast circuits. However, I feel fairly confident to hopefully accomplish a good qualifying performance particularly as this will be a special Grand Prix for Minardi and for me as well. With regard to the track changes, I believe they did a good job at the Prima variante. The objective is clear: to make the drive less dangerous on this part of the track. Prior to the recent modifications the car hit the kerbs hard passing over them and the suspensions could be seriously damaged, as a result. Now the chicane has become much slower and certainly less demanding in terms of driving, but it is as much safer especially for the car. The choice to go for these changes is to be seen in the light of modern F1. In fact the driver should be able to drive with as lower risks as possible even if the course and the curves might lose their challenging touch, as a result. The question is different with regard to the Seconda variante where the kerbs are still too much aggressive according to me. In order to be quick in that spot you need to pass over the kerbs, with the suspensions being hit badly, as a result of the hard car jolts. Instead of changing the track configuration, it should be more suitable to modify the kerbs making them either much more aggressive, so the driver would dodge them, or smoother so the car would not be too much stressed passing over them."
Gaston Mazzacane:
"We carried out an effective work during the tests albeit the weather conditions did not permit us to check some aerodynamic and mechanical items as we had scheduled. I feel optimistic for the race and hopeful to go for an aggressive strategy as I did at Hockenheim where I managed to drive in the wake of other drivers and to follow their pace. This would be quite a good result for me. For sure I hope to display a better qualifying performance and to prove myself more competitive. I have a particular feeling for Monza for it has meant my very first race in Italy in 1994 when I was in F2000. Since then the track has changed a lot and to be honest the latest modification at the Prima variante is not all convincing to me. Let's see what will happen at the race start when cars will arrive at a high speed and will amass in that point which is now so narrow. The recent changes made the chicane slower which allows the driver to get into it easily, but I wonder whether it has been taken into account the fact that modern F1 cars are very fast and numerous. It will be inevitable to slow down and to brake there but to me that part of the track could still be risky. Basically I feel a bit sceptical." CHASSIS
The Team brings to Monza the following cars:
chassis 01 T-car
chassis 03 Marc Gene
chassis 04 Gaston Mazzacane
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