Valencia testing 2002-04-03

Sunny weather returned to Valencia today after yesterday's downpours disrupted most teams' initial practice session. Twelve drivers from eight teams took to the track today and McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen set the top time, clocking a fastest of 1:13.154 over 41 laps. McLaren test driver Alex Wurz was fifth.

Second quickest was Williams' Juan Pablo Montoya, over a second off Raikkonen's pace, putting in a long session of 97 laps. Antonio Pizzonia, Williams' tester, was in the top ten in seventh also working hard with 90 laps.

Olivier Panis was a respectable third which must be encouraging for BAR although test driver Anthony Davidson was slowest of the day in 12th after completing only six laps. Jaguar continued to look much improved, Eddie Irvine setting the fourth fastest time as he concentrated on aerodynamics. Sauber's Nick Heidfeld was sixth, working on launch control, hydraulics and brake systems.

Giancarlo Fisichella and Takuma Sato worked on brakes, launch control and Honda's engine development programme, although Fisichella was slightly hampered by a fuel leak. The Italian was ninth behind his team mate. Renault's Jarno Trulli ran reliability programmes and was tenth while Allan McNish was 11th for Toyota.