Minardi to Run Three Cars at Imola

Minardi will run three cars for the first time in Friday testing at next week's San Marino Formula One Grand Prix after a $1 million deal with Italian driver Matteo Bobbi.

Team boss Paul Stoddart said the team's 2002 test driver Bobbi would be running for two hours on the Friday before four Grands Prix - San Marino, Spain, Austria and Italy. Stoddart said the 24-year-old Italian's deal was part of a sponsorship package.

"Obviously the package is not just the drive. He's got names on the car, passes and all the usual things that a million dollar sponsor would have," he said.

Struggling Minardi are one of four teams to have signed up for limited private testing during the season in exchange for a two-hour slot with three cars each on the track at Grands Prix before regular practice and qualifying. Renault are so far the only team to have run three cars in the test sessions.

Stoddart said Minardi, whose regular drivers are Briton Justin Wilson and Dutchman Jos Verstappen, would be looking to sign up more drivers for testing at other races.

"We'll be trying hard to put an American in at Indianapolis," he said. "It comes down to money. We won't run someone with less than a quarter of a million dollars on a Friday because it just doesn't become economical for us."

A slot at Monaco was unlikely to be available however.

"Not unless it was a known driver," said Stoddart, mindful of the expensive damage an inexperienced racer could cause on the tight and twisty street circuit. "It would have to be someone who has undoubted credibility."