Pantano Happy with Improved Form

Italian driver Giorgio Pantano was a happy man after an encouraging start to the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sakhir circuit.

"I'm quite happy about free practice today," said the Jordan driver after posting the 13th fastest time of today's session. "We have started working in the right direction with the car and also in myself I am getting more comfortable with car, it feels really good.

"We are beginning to see a little bit of difference - we are a lot closer to the front in our lap times compared to the last two races which is encouraging.

"For sure we still need to improve a lot because this is not the maximum we can do. But we have come to a track which is new for everybody and the engineers have worked hard to find a good set-up, a really good balance. I think it's starting to come together and I'm happier."

Pantano, who struggled for pace in the first two races of he year, outpaced his Jordan teammate Nick Heidfeld after the German was hit by mechanical problems in the second session. Heidfeld, who wound up 24th, was nonetheless encouraged by Jordan's pace.

"Today we have improved compared to our rivals and that is in part thanks to Bridgestone," said Heidfeld. "Unfortunately I lost three quarters of the second session due to a technical problem which caused me to stop on the track.

"It is a worse hindrance than usual both as a driver and in terms of setting up the car, because it is valuable time at a new circuit. Hopefully we will be able to use data from Timo and Giorgio to set up the car for tomorrow."