Monaco GP Thursday Minardi notes

MONACO GRAND PRIX - Montecarlo, 13th May 1999 FREE PRACTICE

MARC GENE' Chassis 04 21st 48 laps time: 1:27,667 "A pretty good first day. After the first lap I realized how different world. During the first session I managed to cover the maximum of laps on a track which turned out to be also very difficult to learn. I felt soon very comfortable in my car and in the second session I succeeded in working even better on it. I have loved this circuit since the very first laps even though it is very demanding and challenging. But this is the best in Montecarlo!"

LUCA BADOER Chassis 01 22nd 26 laps time: 1:28,316 "During this morning session everything was going right until the gear strange in terms of clutch and gearbox. Unfortunately this problem prevented me from achieving a significant number of laps and there was no time even to change the tyres. I am disappointed because I couldn't improve my time. Despite the disappointment of today, I feel sure that there will be enough time to sort out the problems for saturday."

The T-car (chassis 03) is prepared for Marc Gene

FORD MOTORSPORT Roger Griffiths - Motorsport Project Leader: "It was an encouraging first session especially for Marc. We had no reliably. The plan now is to change the engines for saturday's qualifying session."

Montecarlo, 13th May 1999 Montecarlo, 13th May 1999