Montoya Tops the Times at Magny-Cours - Final Day

Williams drivers Juan Pablo Montoya and Marc Gene finished on top of the timesheets on the final day of testing at the Magny-Cours circuit in France, where the Grove-based outfit carried out their preparations for the Italian and U.S. Grands Prix.

The team worked on most aspects of the BMW-powered FW23 including engine mapping, chassis development and exhaust systems. Williams also carried out some tyre testing for Michelin, with Gene running with wet weather tyres in the afternoon.

German Heinz Harald Frentzen was third quickest, the Prost star taking over from Czech test driver Tomas Enge, who worked for the Guyancourt-based team on Wednesday and Thursday. Australian Mark Webber joined the session today, working alongside Jenson Button for the Benetton team. The test driver was the quickest of the Benetton pair, as Button could only complete eleven laps.

It was the first time Webber drove after suffering a swollen ankle in a Formula 3000 accident in Spa last weekend.

The Sauber team were forced to conclude their three-day test session at Magny-Cours prematurely after Kimi Raikkonen, who replaced teammate Nick Heidfeld today, went off the track in the morning during his second flying lap and damaged the car.

Raikkonen was taken to Nevers Magny-Cours CHU hospital for a routine check-up. He was released from hospital after the check-up short before lunch. He is now back home in Finland for the weekend and, according to the team, he will be ready for the Italian Grand Prix next week.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time 1. Montoya Williams-BMW (M) 1:13.896 2. Gene Williams-BMW (M) 1:14.371 3. Frentzen Prost-Acer (M) 1:15.498 4. Webber Benetton-Renault (M) 1:16.312 5. Button Benetton-Renault (M) 1.24.051 6. Raikkonen Sauber-Petronas (B) 25.11.499 All Timing Unofficial