Irvine pleased with new car's performance

The Ulsterman was fourth fastest and his team-mate Mika Salo second quickest to world champion Mika Hakkinen at the top of the time sheets.

'All the work we have done over the past few days has paid off and the car is much better although not perfect,' said the Ulsterman who is battling for the world title.

'I am happy with the car and I think we will be much closer to our main opponents than in the last two races.

'I don't know if I can get pole but I am aiming at a front row position.'

The Ulsterman did five days of testing in Italy last week and then a shakedown morning with the new chassis and said the new chassis would be a 'significant' improvement.

Ferrari has built him a new car with revised aerodynamics after concerns that performance was being affected by the fading rigidity of the older chassis.

Salo, in what may be his last race for Ferrari after Schumacher set his sights on returning in Malaysia, reinforced Irvine's buoyant mood.

'I am confident because I feel there is a lot more to come from the car,' he said.