San Marino Minardi Practice Notes 98-04-24

SAN MARINO GRAND PRIX - 24th April 1998 FREE PRACTICE In these first two sessions the technicians of the Minardi team experimented with a number of new solutions on both cars in order to decide the best to be used in the qualifications and in the race. ESTEBAN TUERO Chassis 03 19st laps 32 time: 1:31,954 "This morning I had to have confidence with the track and with a new solution on my car concerning the brake balance: these innovations caused several problems of settlement. I felt ill at ease with the brake bar which was too fast and I had understeering problems especially out of some bends. My T3 was worse than the average for I was loosing tenths at the Rivazza bend." SHINJI NAKANO Chassis 01 20th laps 34 time: 1:32,052 2nd session: spun at 34th lap "The innovations adopted today for the first time on my car were new brake disks and high exhaust pipes and I found it difficult to get used to the new set up. My car was too weak on the rear in the braking not allowing me to push enough. In these sessions I used only hard tyres, while Esteban tried the soft ones too. We have not decided the tyres to be used tomorrow." MARK PARISH - Ford Cosworth Motorsport Programme Director: "The engines were good this morning. We are getting ready for tomorrow, when we'll fit different engines which will prove to be better performing, for sure." Spare-car (chassis 02) is prepared for Esteban Tuero. Imola, April 24th