Barcelona Day 1 AM: Panis puts BAR on top

The three-day test at the Circuit de Catalunya marks the final test for Bridgestone runners before the New Year and all six teams using the Japanese rubber next year are present.

Coulthard went fastest on both days the McLaren team ran at Valencia last week, but the Scot had to be content with playing second fiddle to ex-McLaren test driver Panis as the teams broke for lunch.

BAR are fielding a two-car test team this week, with the second BAR 02 being shared by test driver Darren Manning and F1 hopeful Mark Hynes. The former British F3 champion struggled in his first taste of Formula 1 and finished the morning three seconds off the pace in last place.

This year's British F3 Champ, Antonio Pizzonia, is also set to run this week for the Arrows team, but car trouble has so far prevented the Brazilian from taking to the track. As the 20-year-old has yet to sign a deal with any teams he is not allowed to use next year's tyres, and as such will run on 2000 rubber.

Prost refugee Nick Heidfeld took third place for Sauber, continuing a run of impressive testing form, while the German's team mate for next year Kimi Raikkonen went eighth fastest. The young Finn had an eventful morning after a trip into the gravel brought out the red flags.

Pedro de la Rosa continued to show the potential of the AMT engine by taking fourth ahead of the Jordan-Hondas of Jarno Trulli and Heinz-Harald Frentzen.

Autosport.com will bring you a full report at the end of the day.


1 Olivier Panis (BAR-Honda) 1m20.62s
2 David Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes) 1m20.68s
3 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber-Petronas) 1m21.25s
4 Pedro de la Rosa (Arrows-AMT) 1m21.29s
5 Jarno Trulli (Jordan-Mugen Honda) 1m21.30s
6 Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Jordan-Mugen Honda) 1m21.42s
7 Alex Wurz * (McLaren-Mercedes) 1m21.71s
8 Kimi Raikkonen (Sauber-Petronas) 1m22.89s
9 Darren Manning * (BAR-Honda) 1m23.36s
10 Luca Badoer * (Ferrari) 1m24.19s
11 Marc Hynes * (BAR-Honda) 1m27.10s