Spanish GP Stewart Friday Notes

Barcelona, Friday 28th May, 1999

STEWART-FORD NOTES & QUOTES Spanish Grand Prix: Free Practice

RUBENS BARRICHELLO  Car No.16 (SF3-04)
1.24:347                26 laps        8th position

'I'm not entirely unhappy but we do have some work to do to understand the track conditions a little more if they stay the way they are. Still tomorrow is another day and I'm sure we will find the right balance in time for qualifying. The track today is a lot different to how it was during last week's test which explains why we didn't get the car to work as well.'

JOHNNY HERBERT  Car No.17 (SF3-05))
1.25:667                27 laps        16th position

'I think everybody is struggling a bit because the times seem to be slower than they were during the test. The wind seems to be coming from a unusual direction which is affecting the behaviour of the car but at least we have a base to work from to improve the balance of the car. I only used the one set of tyres so I'm not too concerned with my position at the moment.'

PAUL STEWART, SGP Deputy Chairman

'Both drivers are not entirely happy with the handling of the car. We worked through a number of set-up changes in an effort to find an improvement in that area in both practice sessions today. Rubens improved towards the end of the second session but we are clearly not performing as well yet as we have done in previous tests in Barcelona. We will continue our set-up programme tomorrow in an effort to be in the best shape for qualifying.'

MARTIN WHITAKER, Director, Ford Racing, Europe

'Both Ford Cosworth V10 CR-1 engines ran reliably throughout today apart for an in-let system glitch which affected Johnny on his last lap. New engines will be fitted overnight - the engines we are using here will be the same as those raced in Monaco.'