Irvine Leads the Way at Barcelona - Day Four

Driving last year's Jaguar, Briton Eddie Irvine set the quickest time on the fourth day of testing at the Barcelona circuit, where the weather finally allowed the teams to continue with the development of their machines in the first test of the year.

Irvine, at the wheel of the R2, set the fastest time of the week so far, with a best lap of 1:19.252 after the track dried up in the afternoon. Spanish teammate Pedro de la Rosa, who on the first three days of testing had driven last year's Jaguar with a new rear end, finally got a chance to get behind the wheel of this year's Cosworth-powered R3.

De la Rosa, who completed a total of 36 laps, was only 16th quickest more than four seconds behind Irvine. This was the final day of testing for the Milton Keynes squad, who will now travel to Valencia to start the second testing session of the year next week.

"Today has been my first day of testing with the new car and we've been working on the electronics," said de la Rosa. "We haven't done enough miles with the R3 so it's early to predict where we are."

McLaren's new boy Kimi Raikkonen enjoyed his best day of testing so far, and set the second quickest time of the session only one tenth behind Irvine. Ferrari's Luca Badoer, who was the only driver for the Italian team today at Barcelona, was third quickest. Badoer again concentrated his work on testing Bridgestone tyres and developing the electronics of his F2001.

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya was the quickest of the Williams trio setting the fourth fastest time, with Spaniard Marc Gene in seventh place and Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia, who was forced to stop on track after a mechanical failure, was 11th. It was also the final day of testing for the Grove-based squad at Barcelona.

Sauber drivers Nick Heidfeld and Felipe Massa were sixth and fourteenth quickest repectively with the old C20. The Swiss squad will now travel to the Fiorano circuit, where they will test the new C21 next week.

"It has been a valuable experience learning the track in wet and in dry conditions," said Massa. "Today, I completed 70 laps and I still feel fit. I am looking forward to coming back in Barcelona with the new C21 later this month."

Finn Mika Salo, replacing teammate Allan McNish at the wheel of the Toyota, drove the new TF102 for the first time today, setting the slowest time after 36 laps. Salo's progress, however, was hampered by some technical problems, but he will continue working on Friday.

"Today has been a bit slow and track conditions have not been great," said Salo. "We had a hydraulic leak and some electronical problems preventing us from any serious running. We are still keeping to our time schedule as we continue to learn about the new car."

Testing at Barcelona will conclude on Friday.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time 1. Irvine Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:19.252 2. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:19.361 3. Badoer Ferrari (B) 1:19.791 4. Montoya Williams-BMW (M) 1:19.896 5. Wurz McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:19.946 6. Heidfeld Sauber-Petronas (B) 1:20.074 7. Gene Williams-BMW (M) 1:20.330 8. Fisichella Jordan-Honda (B) 1:20.704 9. Panis BAR-Honda (B) 1:21.104 10. Button Renault (M) 1:21.426 11. Pizzonia Williams-BMW (M) 1:21.485 12. Trulli Renault (M) 1:21.725 13. Sato Jordan-Honda (B) 1:21.738 14. Massa Sauber-Petronas (B) 1:21.795 15. Davidson BAR-Honda (B) 1:21.815 16. De la Rosa Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:23.377 17. Salo Toyota (M) 1:24.251 All Timing Unofficial