Pizzonia Sets New Track Record at Valencia

Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia set an impressive pace on the final day of testing at the Valencia circuit, breaking the track record with his Jaguar.

Pizzonia, who will make his Grand Prix debut in Australia in three weeks time, posted a quickest time of 1:10.090 late in the afternoon, after completing only 24 laps at the wheel of the new Jaguar R4.

Pizzonia's time was 63 thousandths of a second quicker than the lap record set by Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya on Tuesday, when the Williams driver shattered the previous benchmark. The Brazilian finished more than a whole second ahead of his closest rival.

Montoya was second quickest today with the Williams FW24 after 98 laps. The Colombian driver has covered around 1,400 km during the five days of work at the Spanish circuit. Williams wrapped up their five-day programme today, working again with Spaniard Marc Gene and German Ralf Schumacher, who finished at the bottom of the times with the new FW25.

Canadian Jacques Villeneuve was third quickest with the only Honda-powered BAR on track after taking over from teammate Jenson Button.

Formula One testing will resume at Valencia next week, when the McLaren team will work alone.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time Laps 1. Pizzonia Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:10.090 24 2. Montoya Williams-BMW (M) 1:11.179 98 3. Villeneuve BAR-Honda (B) 1:11.323 75 4. Gene Williams-BMW (M) 1:11.890 41 5. R.Schumacher Williams-BMW (M) 1:12.385 88 All Timing Unofficial

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