Valencia testing, day 2 AM: DC still top of heap

The Scot broke for lunch at the top of the timesheets after posting a 1m14.69s lap - 0.16s faster than Rubens Barrichello's Ferrari.

Coulthard completed 32 laps, concentrating on Bridgestone 2001-spec tyre evaluation, and once again completed the session with two practice starts at the end of the pit lane. The starts were devoid of any noticeable wheelspin and it is believed that McLaren was again running traction control in preparation for its re-introduction in the second quarter of the 2001 season.

Barrichello ran 57 trouble-free laps, edging McLaren test driver Alex Wurz into third by 0.65s. With test driver Luca Badoer majoring on traction control system tests at Fiorano, Barrichello concentrated on running 2001 development parts.

Wurz, who caused one of the morning's two red flags after his car stopped at the end of the pitlane, also concentrated on running development parts. With rear wings limited to just three elements next season, all the teams are carrying out major aerodynamic evaluations.

"I've done a lot more laps here than I managed at Jerez," said Wurz, "and it's looking good. There's still a lot to come and the characteristics of the car are very different to the Benetton, but the basis is obviously very, very good."

Heinz-Harald Frentzen was just 0.09s slower than Wurz, but caused the day's other red flag when he spun. The German complained of the strong winds at the Spanish circuit.

"It was very windy today - I noticed that when I climbed out of the car after spinning," he noted wrily. "It was especially bad at the back of the circuit when the wind was completely head on."

Testing at Valencia continues this afternoon and tomorrow.


1 David Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes) 1m14.69s - 32 laps
2 Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari) 1m14.85s - 57 laps
3 Alex Wurz (McLaren-Mercedes) 1m15.50s - 29 laps
4 Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Jordan-Honda) 1m15.59s - 40 laps
5 Jos Verstappen (Arrows-AMT) 1m15.96s - 30 laps
6 Ricardo Zonta (Jordan-Honda) 1m15.99s - 22 laps