Ralf on Top Again at Magny Cours - Day Two

Williams' Ralf Schumacher dominated the second day of testing at the French circuit, where all Formula One teams except Sauber and Minardi are preparing for next week's Canadian Grand Prix and the French Grand Prix in July.

Schumacher, also fastest on Tuesday with the Michelin-shod FW23, completed 62 laps today, but he was unable to better yesterday's time, being less than a tenth of a second slower.

"Unluckily I have had to stop earlier than planned due to a sore throat," Ralf said. "But I am very happy with both days. It has been a very positive test."

Rubens Barrichello and Michael Schumacher continued working at the wheel of their F2001 for the Ferrari team. The Brazilian driver concentrated on electronic development, also doing a few practice starts and testing tyres, setting the second fastest time. World champion Schumacher, meanwhile, worked mainly on set-up with his F2001, being third quickest after 75 laps.

Eddie Irvine was fourth quickest for the improved Jaguar team, working on Michelin tyre testing and suspension set-up for the Gilles Villeneuve circuit. Teammate Pedro de la Rosa was ninth after completing 75 laps with the second R2. The Spaniard will be joined tomorrow by Formula Three driver Andrea Lotterer, who already tested for Jaguar at Valencia.

BAR drivers Olivier Panis and Jacques Villeneuve were fifth and eighth fastest respectively for the Brackley-based team, the Frenchman taking over from test driver Patrick Lemarie. McLaren's David Coulthard joined the test today, replacing Alexander Wurz and posting the sixth fastest time after gearbox problems hampered his progress.

The Jordan team was present with their three drivers today with Brazilian Ricardo Zonta having to replace Heinz-Harald Frentzen in the afternoon after the German felt dizzy due to his heavy crash at Monaco. Zonta was the fastest of the Jordan drivers.

Luciano Burti was eleventh quickest driving the Prost for the second consecutive day, the Brazilian causing the session to be red-flagged after his Ferrari engine blew up.

Arrows drivers Jos Verstappen and Enrique Bernoldi endured another tough day at the French circuit, again being hampered by mechanical failures. Verstappen was twelfth fastest today, concentrating on testing tyres for Bridgestone, also working on electronic development. Bernoldi, who only drove in the morning session, was slowest more than two seconds off the pace.

The Asiatech-powered A22s sandwiched Frentzen and the only Benetton at the circuit, that of Jenson Button, who continued working for the Renault-owned team carrying out more tyre testing for Michelin.

The Magny-Cours test continues tomorrow.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time 1. R.Schumacher Williams-BMW (M) 1:15.214 2. Barrichello Ferrari (B) 1:15.387 3. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:15.508 4. Irvine Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:15.550 5. Panis BAR-Honda (B) 1:15.674 6. Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:15.735 7. Zonta Jordan-Honda (B) 1:15.810 8. Villeneuve BAR-Honda (B) 1:15.966 9. de la Rosa Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:16.002 10. Trulli Jordan-Honda (B) 1:16.406 11. Burti Prost-Acer (M) 1:16.772 12. Verstappen Arrows-Asiatech (B) 1:16.925 13. Button Benetton-Renault (M) 1:17.026 14. Frentzen Jordan-Honda (B) 1:17.190 15. Bernoldi Arrows-Asiatech (B) 1:17.346 All Timing Unofficial