Valencia day 2: Juan is the man
The battle that raged in 2002 between the Williams-BMW and McLaren-Mercedes teams continued in pre-season testing at Valencia in Spain today (Wednesday)
Yesterday's windy conditions gave way to fine weather today, until rain showers interrupted the afternoon session.
Before then, Williams ace Juan Pablo Montoya set the pace at 1m10.794s, three-tenths clear of McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen. McLaren held the upper hand in the test driver stakes, however, with Alexander Wurz - quickest overall yesterday - outpacing his opposite number at Williams, Marc Gene, by four-tenths of a second.
The only 2003-spec chassis at Valencia, Sauber's C22, was fifth fastest with Heinz-Harald Frentzen at the wheel. The German said: "I was pleased with the way things went today. The C22 feels good, but we have only just begun to test its full potential."
German Formula 3 champion Gary Paffett rounded out the top six with a lap of 1m14.491s in a third McLaren. He filled in for regular driver David Coulthard, who was feeling unwell.
Juan Pablo Montoya Williams-BMW M 1m10.794s 81
Kimi Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes M 1m11.111s 42
Alexander Wurz McLaren-Mercedes M 1m11.911s 94
Marc Gene Williams-BMW M 1m12.331s 74
Heinz-Harald Frentzen Sauber-Petronas B 1m12.991s 64*
Gary Paffett McLaren-Mercedes M 1m14.491s 35
B = Bridgestone
M = Michelin
* denotes 2003 car
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