Sauber Barcelona test notes 2004-01-22

Team Sauber Petronas continued its four-day test at the Circuito de Catalunya today. Giancarlo Fisichella covered 66 laps in chassis C23-01 to set a best time of 1:16.529.

Giampaolo Dall'Ara (Race Engineer):

"Today and tomorrow we are using the same engine as we are targeting a higher mileage than usual in order to simulate the usage of the engine at a race weekend according to the new regulations. Unfortunately we were forced to stop our test in the morning due to a fuel supply problem, which cost us some time."

"Nevertheless this break didn't set us too much under time pressure and we were still be able to complete our scheduled engine programme. We also finished our Bridgestone tyre test for today and worked on the set-up for Giancarlo."

"Tomorrow we will concentrate on a race distance simulation and do a Bridgestone programme which will focus on long runs. Further to this we are planning some aerodynamic tests as well."

Giancarlo Fisichella:

"In the morning it didn't work that well for me as the car set-up didn't fit to my driving style and we had to change quite a few things. Then, in the afternoon, we made a big step forward and the C23 was getting better and better. Considering the fairly long break which we were forced to take due to the fuel supply problem I'm quite happy that I could still run 66 laps."

Giancarlo Fisichella
Chassis: C23-01
66 laps, 305.382 kilometres
Best time: 1:16.529

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