Sato Goes Quickest at Mugello

Sato, whose team joined the test today, finished just one hundred of a second in front of test driver Davidson as both worked on their preparations for the Spanish Grand Prix next week.

World Champion Michael Schumacher and teammate Rubens Barrichello took over from Ferrari test drivers Marc Gene and Luca Badoer on the team's second day of testing.
 
Both men worked with the F2005 car, continuing with the programme of tyre and aerodynamics testing. Barrichello was the quickest of the two after 111 laps.

The Minardi team suffered an embarrassing setback to one of their rare Formula One tests when their cars collided.

Christijan Albers, a regular racer, was in the team's new PS05 car while Chanoch Nissany, a test driver who has never competed in a Grand Prix, drove the old PS04B.

The accident caused slight damage to both cars, sidelining them for the afternoon. Austrian Patrick Friesacher was able to continue testing.

"It's difficult to hide the fact that we're disappointed by the crash between our two drivers, as it has put us behind with the scheduled test programme," said team manager Massimo Rivola. "On the positive side, Patrick was able to do some useful running and, as a result, we have made progress on improving reliability.

"In addition, we are grateful to Bridgestone for making available a number of different tyre compounds for evaluation at this test.

"Finally, I would like to make it clear that Minardi is fully respecting the testing arrangement that is in place with other teams, and although we have three chassis present here at Mugello, we have only allowed two cars on track at the same time. We will now hope fervently for a better day tomorrow."

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time Laps 1. Sato BAR-Honda (M) 1:20.647 64 2. Davidson BAR-Honda (M) 1:20.657 55 3. Barrichello Ferrari (B) 1:20.764 127 4. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:20.899 111 5. Friesacher Minardi-Cosworth (B) 1:25.623 38 6. Albers Minardi-Cosworth (B) 1:27.401 15 7. Nissany Minardi-Cosworth (B) 1:39.519 26 All Timing Unofficial