Raikkonen Tops the Times at Mugello

Championship leader Kimi Raikkonen set the quickest time on the first day of testing at the Mugello circuit in Italy, where up to six Formula One teams will be preparing this week for the Spanish Grand Prix.

McLaren driver Raikkonen, working with the Mercedes-powered MP4-17D, completed a total of 71 laps and posted a best time of 1:22.805, nearly two tenths of a second faster than Italian Luca Badoer.

Test driver Badoer was the man in charge of testing duties for World Champions Ferrari, who continued working with their new F2003-GA car in order to have it ready for its expected debut at the Spanish Grand Prix next week.

Badoer carried out a durability test, completing a total of 83 laps with no reported problems to post the second fastest time of the day behind Raikkonen.

Frenchman Olivier Panis was third quickest with the first of the two Toyotas on track, the second one driven by Brazilian tester Ricardo Zonta.

"It was a very good test day for me," said Panis. "We had a lot of items on our list. Among other things we worked on our engine's driveability and I could feel some real improvement. The team did a great job on this, here and back at the factory.

"We also did a big step in our tyre programme in preparation for the next race in Spain. And mostly, we had a completely trouble-free day, which allowed me to cover many laps. It's very nice for all of us to start the week on such a high note."

The Toyota drivers were split by McLaren's test driver Alexander Wurz with the second MP4-17D in action today, although the Austrian's session came to a premature end as he was feeling unwell.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen, with the only Sauber on track, finished at the bottom of the times after 57 laps. The German concentrated mainly on testing some new aerodynamic parts for the C22.

"Our test schedule for today basically comprised testing new aerodynamic parts and working on tyre data," explained Sauber's head engineer Jacky Eeckelaert. "The new aerodynamic parts, which have mainly been tested at the wind tunnel needed further data verification. We have also done aerodynamic tests on the downforce level required for the next race.

"In preparation for Barcelona we have checked the Bridgestone data in order to confirm our previous tyre selection. Overall, we were not able to complete our programme as planned. The engine failure in the morning threw us back and we could only continue by noon. However, we will work hard to catch up tomorrow."

Testing will continue tomorrow, when the Jaguar and BAR teams are scheduled to join.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time Laps 1. Raikkonen McLaren Mercedes (M) 1:22.805 71 2. Badoer Ferrari (B) 1:22.990 83 3. Panis Toyota (M) 1:23.142 93 4. Wurz McLaren Mercedes (M) 1:23.886 47 5. Zonta Toyota (M) 1:23.945 65 6. Frentzen Sauber (B) 1:24.267 57 All Timing Unofficial

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