Barcelona test, day 8: Sauber dominates again

Raikkonen, who graduates to F1 this year straight from Formula Renault, spent much of the day in front before team mate Heidfeld went fastest with a blistering lap of 1m20.47s just five minutes before the close of play.

Most of the day's running took place in the afternoon as overnight rain presented the teams with a damp track in the morning. Conditions brightened in the afternoon and the abrasive Barcelona asphalt was completely dry by 1330 local time (1230 GMT). The times began to tumble, but no-one could get close to the Sauber duo.

Eddie Irvine was closest in third place, but was almost two seconds behind in his Jaguar R2. The Irishman carried on with a tyre development programme for Michelin while team mate Luciano Burti, who finished the day fifth, continued to shakedown the newer of the two R2s.

Juan Pablo Montoya took over from test driver Marc Gene for the Williams-BMW team in the only 2000 car present. The Colombian was driving a hybrid version of last year's FW22 fitted with a 2001 gearbox.

Gaston Mazzacane had his second run in the Prost team's new car which returned to the track after an absence of four days. The Argentinian completed 39 laps and finished the day just over five seconds behind Heidfeld.

Enrique Bernoldi was on hand again for the Arrows team, but did not drive as the Leafield-based team is awaiting parts from England. Jos Verstappen was due to shake down the 2001 Arrows-AMT at Silverstone tomorrow, but the test has been postponed until later in the week.

The new Williams FW23 arrives tomorrow after its launch at Silverstone yesterday. The Benetton team are also due at the Circuit de Catalunya to continue development of its wide-angled Renault V10 before the new car is launched in Venice next week.



Nick Heidfeld, Sauber-Petronas B, 1m20.47s, 46 laps
Kimi Raikkonen, Sauber-Petronas B, 1m21.19s, 54 laps
Eddie Irvine, Jaguar M, 1m23.11s, 68 laps
Juan Pablo Montoya, Williams-BMW M (2000 car), 1m23.52s, 42 laps
Luciano Burti, Jaguar M, 1m24.50s, 50 laps
Gaston Mazzacane, Prost-Ferrari M, 1m25.57s, 39 laps
M - Michelin
B - Bridgestone