Pizzonia Sets Valencia Pace - Day One

Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia set the quickest time on the first day of testing at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia, where three Formula One teams got back to work after the Austrian Grand Prix last Sunday.

Williams test driver Pizzonia, who completed a total of 81 laps at the wheel of the FW24, outpaced teammate Marc Gene by some three tenths of a second, as the Grove-based squad began their preparations for the Monaco Grand Prix in two weeks time.

"A useful day on the circuit," said Williams test team manager Tim Newton. "We achieved all the test objectives with tyre tests, engine mapping and some brake work."

Italian Jarno Trulli, who retired on Sunday in Austria, was third quickest with the only Renault on track today, the Pescaran being the busiest man with 83 laps completed with the Michelin-shod R202 chassis.

"It was a good day," said Renault's technical director Mike Gascoyne. "As usual, Jarno worked extremely well with a full development programme. Overall, it looks promising."

Canadian Jacques Villeneuve finished at the bottom of the timesheets, the BAR driver causing the only red flag of the session after suffering a mechanical problem in his Honda-powered machine.

Testing at Valencia will continue on Wednesday.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time Laps 1. Pizzonia Williams-BMW (M) 1:12.854 81 2. Gene Williams-BMW (M) 1:13.170 67 3. Trulli Renault (M) 1:13.572 83 4. Villeneuve BAR-Honda (B) 1:14.336 82 All Timing Unofficial

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