Schumacher Shatters Jerez Record - Final Day

World Champion Michael Schumacher shattered the unofficial record of the Jerez circuit on the last day of testing at the Spanish track.

The Ferrari driver, replacing Italian Luca Badoer at the wheel of the F2004, posted a quickest time of 1:15.650, nearly half a second faster than what his Brazilian teammate Rubens Barrichello had managed earlier this month in testing.

Schumacher, who worked on tyre testing for the Brazilian Grand Prix, finished nearly a second ahead of McLaren's test driver Alex Wurz and Williams' Ralf Schumacher, who was third quickest today.

Briton Anthony Davidson was fourth fastest for the BAR team despite suffering an engine failure when travelling down the main straight. Enrique Bernoldi finished eighth in the second Honda-powered car.

The Renault team completed their preparations for the Japanese Grand Prix, again with both Frenchman Franck Montagny and Finland's Heikki Kovalainen carrying out testing duties.

Jarno Trulli wrapped up his three-day test with the Toyota team, the Italian enjoying a productive session after completing a total of 111 laps on his way to the sixth quickest time of the day.

"It was good to have three days to test after the hurried test at Silverstone, and I've more or less sorted out my seat now after trying a couple of alternatives," said Trulli. "It wasn't the luckiest test, though. We had a reasonable first day, but we lost time after a stone lodged itself inside the rim of my left rear tyre, causing it to deflate and sending me off the circuit.

"I was okay, and so was the car, and we ended up putting in nearly 70 laps. On Wednesday I was testing tyres for the Brazilian Grand Prix but our work was interrupted by an accident at the chicane caused by a problem related to the rear suspension.

"Luckily it happened at one of the slowest parts of the circuit, but the damage meant that we did no more running that afternoon. The last day was much better and we put in a lot more mileage, so despite the troubles I now have a good feel for the car and its positive aspects."

Testing returns to Jerez in October.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time Laps 1. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:15.650 89 2. Wurz McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:16.496 110 3. R.Schumacher Williams-BMW (M) 1:16.502 102 4. Davidson BAR-Honda (M) 1:16.577 127 5. Montagny Renault (M) 1:16.640 88 6. Trulli Toyota (M) 1:16.674 111 7. Gene Williams-BMW (M) 1:16.951 94 8. Bernoldi BAR-Honda (M) 1:17.215 107 9. de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:17.334 59 10. Kovalainen Renault (M) 1:17.366 97 All Timing Unofficial

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