Ralf Stays Ahead at Barcelona - Final Day

The penultimate test of this year's Formula One pre-season came to an end today at the Barcelona circuit, where three teams completed their work.

The Williams team dominated today's session, with German Ralf Schumacher finishing quickest for the second time this week at the wheel of the new FW25 chassis. Schumacher, the busiest man today with 81 laps, posted a quickest time of 1:17.959, nearly three tenths of a second faster than his teammate Juan Pablo Montoya, also in an FW25.

"We covered a lot of ground during the test and, although it was wet for most of it, we still learnt a lot about the new car," said Williams' chief operations engineer Sam Michael.

Briton Ralph Firman wrapped up a five-day test for the Jordan team today. The current Formula Nippon champion enjoyed a promising day, finishing only one tenth behind Montoya in the Ford-powered EJ13, which was the only Bridgestone-shod car on track today.

Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia, driving the Jaguar R4, was slowest.

Formula One teams will be back in action next week for their final test before flying to Australia for the season opening Grand Prix in Melbourne.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time Laps 1. R.Schumacher Williams-BMW (M) 1:17.959 81 2. Montoya Williams-BMW (M) 1:18.291 80 3. Firman Jordan-Ford (B) 1:18.396 59 4. Pizzonia Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:19.398 68 All Timing Unofficial

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