Jaguar Barcelona test notes 2002-03-21

Michael Schumacher had little trouble posting the fastest time today, in a new F2002. Team-mate Rubens Barrichello was 0.4s slower in his new car, finishing the day second, with Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer taking sixth while pushing forward a tyre development programme in a F2001.

McLaren's Alex Wurz was once again up the order, in third, with Pedro de la Rosa finishing an encouraging fourth quickest for Jaguar Racing.

De la Rosa was out in a 2001 spec R2 again today and put in a full day's work of 78 laps of testing. The second day of Jaguar Racing's comparative test programme was relatively uneventful, as the mileage and the data piled up ahead of tomorrow's decision on which car to race in Round Four at Imola. Eddie Irvine is expected to join the fray tomorrow.

Jacques Villeneuve, meanwhile, caused a bit of a stir in the pitlane by not turning up as expected. The Canadian driver's motorhome left the circuit near Barcelona today where it had been waiting, primed for his arrival. "It is a change to the programme because Jacques was complaining of a back problem," said a team spokesperson. Briton Anthony Davidson was drafted in to replace him and he finished the day 12th.

Championship contender David Coulthard had a relatively slow day, finishing up seventh. Giancarlo Fisichella took over from Takuma Sato at Jordan, while Mika Salo replaced Aussie Ryan Briscoe in the Toyota. Salo had some hydraulics problems during the session and finished second slowest. Renault's Jarno Trulli finished at the bottom of the times after completing only seven laps, his Renault being hamstrung by an electrical problem.

-jaguar