Pizzonia Sets New Lap Record at Valencia - Final Day

Antonio Pizzonia set an impressive pace on the final day of testing at the Valencia circuit, where the Brazilian lowered the track record by almost two tenths of a second.

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya had set a new record on Wednesday, but Pizzonia, driving last year's Williams FW25, went even faster today, posting a best time of 1:09.165 after 63 laps with the BMW-powered car.

The Brazilian, who returned to F1 action yesterday for the first time since last year, was almost three tenths quicker than World Champion Michael Schumacher.

The German wrapped up Ferrari's three-day test at the Spanish track before traveling to Italy, where tomorrow he will work with the new F2004 car at the Fiorano circuit. It will be the first test with the new car, which was unveiled last Monday.

Spaniard Marc Gene was third fastest in the Williams FW26, finishing ahead of Briton Jenson Button in the first of the BAR-Honda 005 cars. The second was driven by test driver Anthony Davidson, who set the eighth quickest time in the second machine from the Brackley-based squad.

BAR will unveil their new car next Sunday.

Italian Giancarlo Fisichella replaced teammate Felipe Massa as the Sauber team completed their programme with the new C23 car. Fisichella enjoyed a positive session and finished as fifth fastest ahead of Toyota's Cristiano da Matta at the wheel of the new TF104, and Jaguar's Christian Klien, who drove the new R5.

"Our test programme for today basically focused on Bridgestone work whereby we concentrated on the assessment of different front and rear tyre constructions," said Sauber's Jacky Eeckelaert. "In addition we undertook some brake evaluations.

"Despite of losing valuable test time yesterday due to the interruption caused by a mechanical problem we were able to complete our programme for this week on the whole. Overall we are satisfied with what we've done these days."

Hungarian Zsolt Baumgartner was the busiest man on his second day of work for the Minardi team, completing 104 laps.

Formula One will return to Valencia at the end of February.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time Laps 1. Pizzonia Williams-BMW (M) 1:09.165 63 2. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:09.414 86 3. Gene Williams-BMW (M) 1:10.440 87 4. Button BAR-Honda (M) 1:10.466 93 5. Fisichella Sauber-Petronas (B) 1:10.473 72 6. da Matta Toyota (M) 1:11.319 81 7. Klien Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:11.443 102 8. Davidson BAR-Honda (M) 1:11.712 94 9. Baumgartner Minardi-Cosworth (B) 1:12.306 104 All Timing Unofficial

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