Badoer Fastest on Final Day of Barcelona Testing

Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer again set the fastest time of today's testing at Barcelona, Spain, while the Italian team, along with Sauber and BAR, concluded the first session of testing ahead of the 2004 season.

Ferrari's testing programme was however hampered when their second test driver, Luciano Burti, crashed the car in the morning session. The Brazilian slid on the damp track and lost control of the F2003-GA on the start/finish straight, hitting the pitwall heavily. Burti was unhurt but the impact caused severe damage to the car and effectively sidelined the Brazilian for the rest of the day.

BAR continued their work on the 2004 'concept' car, with Jenson Button maintaining competitive laptimes and ending two tenths slower than Badoer's. His teammate Takuma Sato continued running in the 2003 car, setting the slowest time of the day but completing the most laps - a whopping total of 106.

Sauber's Giancarlo Fisichella ended his first testing session with Sauber third fastest of the day, less than half a second behind Badoer. "In the morning the track was wet which enabled us to run a wet tyre programme for Bridgestone," commented Jacky Eeckelaert, Sauber's Chief Race Engineer.

"We continued tyre testing in the afternoon and also used the new power steering which will be fitted to the 2004 car. Overall, the three days were very productive and we were able to complete our planned programme. Giancarlo proved to be a real professional and adapted very quickly to his new environment."

Testing resumes at Barcelona next week, with Jaguar, Toyota, McLaren and Renault.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Time Laps 1. Badoer Ferrari (B) 1:17.302 70 2. Button BAR-Honda (M) 1:17.504 87 3. Fisichella Sauber-Petronas (B) 1:17.745 65 4. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:17.780 70 5. Burti Ferrari (B) 1:17.790 15 6. Sato BAR-Honda (M) 1:18.062 106

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