Sauber Barcelona test notes 2004-01-20

Team Sauber Petronas started its four-day test at the Circuito de Catalunya today. Felipe Massa covered 61 laps in chassis C23-01 to set a best time of 1:17.776. He will continue tomorrow before Giancarlo Fisichella will take over on Thursday.

Mike Krack (Race Engineer):

"Basically we scheduled Bridgestone tyre tests for the morning, but they were delayed. The reason for that were several software adjustments. We are currently still learning to understand the car and what impact certain set-up changes have on the performance of the C23. The hereby collected data are analysed by different software, which also still have to be configured. To understand all this takes a certain part of our job at the moment."

"However, we finished our scheduled work for Bridgestone today and confirmed the data gathered in Valencia last week. In the afternoon we changed the engine which we already used in Valencia as it has reached its given mileage. After this Felipe could do only one more run, but we found already a good set-up basis for tomorrow when we will continue our Bridgestone programme and do several aerodynamic and cooling tests."

Felipe Massa:

"It was not quite an easy day. In the morning we had to do some software adjustments which cost us valuable time. Then we had to change the engine and therefore there was not much time left for me to be out at the track. Nevertheless I'm confident with regard to tomorrow as we found a good set-up now."

Felipe Massa
Chassis: C23-01
61 laps, 282.247 kilometres
Best time: 1:17.776

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