Bernoldi the Star on Opening Day at Estoril

Enrique Bernoldi continued his Formula One education in style when he topped the times on a wet opening day of testing at Estoril, Portugal, on Wednesday.

Arrows new-boy Bernoldi underlined his growing reputation by outpacing his nearest rival Jean Alesi by almost 1.5 seconds as he posted a quickest lap time of 1:22.997 during the 59 laps he completed. The Brazilian, though, was driving the old 2000-spec car.

Alesi rolled-out in the AP04 as work on the new Ferrari-powered car continued. He completed 60 laps with a quickest lap of 1:24.484.

Bernoldi's Arrows team-mate Jos Verstappen was third quickest of the four drivers after he completed 40 laps at the wheel of the A22, while Benetton's Giancarlo Fisichella was the slowest after spinning off the track.

Italian Fisichella ran 66 laps in the B201 and reported no problems with the team's new Renault engine.

Technical director Mike Gascoyne: "We are very pleased with today's running. We have made progress each day we have run the new car and we are on target with the development programme, so things are looking positive."

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time 1. Bernoldi Arrows-Asiatech (B) 1:22.997 2. Alesi Prost-Ferrari (M) 1:24.484 3. Verstappen Arrows-Asiatech (B) 1:24.568 4. Fisichella Benetton-Renault (M) 1:24.585 All Timing Unofficial