Testing starts to wind up

Testing began to wind up today as most teams completed programmes at Silverstone and Monza ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix next weekend. In the UK it was Jaguar's Mark Webber who topped the times with a best of 1:17.638. Giancarlo Fisichella was top at Monza, the Sauber clocking a fastest of 1:20.701.

Giancarlo Fisichella.

Photo by Bridgestone Corporation.

Fisichella continued with brakes and aerodynamics but suffered a tyre blow out towards the end of the day. The team decided to curtail the test but will be back on track tomorrow for its last day of testing. Ferrari tester Luca Badoer was second fastest, continuing tyre and new component work, and Rubens Barrichello was third at Silverstone. He completed work at the circuit, and Andrea Bertolini will be on track at Monza tomorrow.

Ralf Schumacher, third fastest, was the sole Williams on duty at Monza, while Juan Pablo Montoya and tester Antonio Pizzonia finished up at Silverstone in fourth and ninth respectively. Brakes, tyres, traction and aerodynamics were the focus of Williams' week, as well as distance runs for the engine.

BAR tester Anthony Davidson was fourth quickest at Monza while Jenson Button took over at Silverstone, second on the time sheet. Toyota had test driver duo Ricardo Zonta and Ryan Briscoe fifth and seventh in Italy -- Zonta had a high-speed crash but was unharmed, although the car was badly damaged. Cristiano da Matta wrapped the Silverstone test up, eighth. Tyres were the focus of the team's UK test, as well as set up.

David Coulthard was on duty for McLaren at Monza, sixth of the seven drivers present, while Kimi Raikkonen was fifth quickest at Silverstone. Renault concluded its week in the UK with Jarno Trulli and Fernando Alonso sixth and seventh on the time sheet. The two race drivers worked on set up for the upcoming races.

Giorgio Pantano, 10th fastest, and Nick Heidfeld, 11th, concluded Jordan's two-day test at Silverstone. "We got through a fair amount of work, mostly Bridgestone's tyre testing for the next few European races and looking at aerodynamic and chassis set-ups for the Canadian Grand Prix," said head of race and test engineering James Robinson. "It's gone quite well, a few technical glitches which is usual for a test but overall it's been productive."