Raikkonen Crushes Jerez Track Record - Day Two

Finn Kimi Raikkonen set a new record at the Jerez circuit in Southern Spain, where the McLaren driver was nearly two seconds faster than the previous benchmark, set by Canadian Jacques Villeneuve at the 1997 European Grand Prix when he was driving a Williams.

Raikkonen set a blistering 1:19.235 lap on his first ever visit to the Spanish circuit, shattering Villeneuve's previous record of 1:21.072. The McLaren driver, who completed a total of 75 laps at the wheel of the Michelin-shod car, was more than a second quicker than Mika Salo with the Toyota, the Japanese squad joining the test today.

"This is the first time we have tested here so some time was spent during the session on mechanical car set-up to find a good balance," Salo said. "We also worked on hydraulic control systems and traction control as well as some other new parts. We had a few problems and didn't get much running done."

Pedro de la Rosa was one of the three Spanish drivers testing on home soil, the Jaguar star setting the third quickest time with the R3, finishing ahead of compatriot Fernando Alonso, who was the quickest of the Renault drivers after outpacing Italian Jarno Trulli with the second R202 from the French outfit.

"A very positive day," said Renault's technical director Mike Gascoyne at the end of the day. "Both drivers worked well, completing full programmes with a view to the upcoming races."

McLaren's test driver Alexander Wurz, quickest on the first day of testing, was only sixth fastest today, more than two seconds off Raikkonen's pace. Marc Gene was the busiest man of the session, completing a massive 107 laps with the only Williams on track, as the Grove team continued concentrating on improving their reliability.

"This morning we ran tyre tests over both a short distance and on endurance runs," said Williams test team manager Tim Newton. "In the afternoon we undertook a scheduled engine change before completing a race run, 108 laps or just shy of 500km is a useful mileage to complete in a day."

Brazilian Luciano Burti, who had already tested at Jerez last month, was eighth quickest with the updated version of last year's F2001, while BAR test drivers Anthony Davidson and Patrick Lemarie finished at the bottom of the timesheets on the first day of work for the Brackley-based squad.

Testing at Jerez continues on Thursday.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time Laps 1. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:19.235 75 2. Salo Toyota (M) 1:20.784 39 3. De la Rosa Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:20.909 71 4. Alonso Renault (M) 1:21.259 71 5. Trulli Renault (M) 1:21.390 66 6. Wurz McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:21.411 95 7. Gene Williams-BMW (M) 1:21.448 107 8. Burti Ferrari (B) 1:21.610 93 9. Davidson BAR-Honda (B) 1:22.650 21 10. Lemarie BAR-Honda (B) 1:23.231 55 All Timing Unofficial

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