Massa Goes Fastest at Monza

Ferrari test driver Felipe Massa set the fastest time on the third and final day of testing at the Monza circuit, home of the Italian Grand Prix.

Brazilian Massa was the only Ferrari driver in action today after compatriot Rubens Barrichello worked alongside him yesterday. Massa took over from Barrichello at the wheel of the F2003-GA chassis, concentrating on durability tests and posting a fastest time of 1:22.854 after 70 laps.

Japanese Takuma Sato was second quickest with the BAR-Honda 005, finishing less than a tenth behind Massa. Sato and Briton Anthony Davidson were in charge of testing duties for the Brackley-based team after racing drivers Jenson Button and Jacques Villeneuve were sidelined from the test. Davidson was fifth fastest.

Spaniards Pedro de la Rosa and Marc Gene were third and fourth respectively for the McLaren and Williams teams. Gene, fastest on the first two days, suffered a mechanical problem that forced the session to be red-flagged briefly after his FW25 stopped right after the first chicane.

German Nick Heidfeld replaced teammate Heinz-Harald Frentzen as the Sauber team completed their programme at Monza. Heidfeld covered 79 laps, posting the sixth quickest time.

"Today we verified the data Heinz-Harald Frentzen gathered for us in the past two days," said Sauber's head engineer Jacky Eeckelaert. "We have tested again with Nick Heidfeld the best front wing configuration in order to confirm this choice for Montreal. Later today we continued with tyre work for the French Grand Prix in Magny-Cours at the beginning of July.

"Overall we have done a synthesis of aerodynamic tests for Montreal and Monza, and of Bridgestone assessments for Magny-Cours. Our drivers could cover a lot of laps to give us valuable data and the test programme ran without any problems the whole three days."

The Toyota team also concluded their three-day programme at the Italian circuit, again with Olivier Panis driving the TF103 chassis. The Frenchman finished at the bottom of the times after being hampered by mechanical problems.

"We only managed 49 laps today, which was a shame because we had a big programme planned and we were unable to complete most of it due to some technical problems," said Panis at the end of the day.

"Nevertheless over the last two days we have made some good progress for Canada, particularly with the new engine, which is going very well. It is difficult to know where we are compared to the others, we have to wait until we are in Montreal to know fully, but I am quite positive and looking forward to it."

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time Laps 1. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:22.854 70 2. Sato BAR-Honda (B) 1:22.922 88 3. de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:22.939 69 4. Gene Williams-BMW (M) 1:22.976 59 5. Davidson BAR-Honda (B) 1:23.449 87 6. Heidfeld Sauber-Petronas (B) 1:23.481 79 7. Panis Toyota (M) 1:24.048 49 All Timing Unofficial

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