Wurz Goes Fastest at Valencia

McLaren's test driver Alexander Wurz set a blistering pace on the second day of testing at the Valencia circuit in Southern Spain.

The Austrian, working with the updated MP4-17D, eclipsed World Champion Michael Schumacher, lapping more than half a second faster then the German driver, who joined the test today, taking over from test driver Luca Badoer at the wheel of the F2002.

Schumacher and teammate Rubens Barrichello continued working on tyre and electronics testing, with the Brazilian setting the fourth fastest time of the day behind David Coulthard. The Scot returned to work today after missing last week's session due to a stomach bug.

Italian Giancarlo Fisichella was fifth quickest in the Jordan EJ13, again finishing as fastest of the drivers with the 2003 cars. Fisichella suffered a mechanical problem in the morning and forced the session to be red-flagged in the afternoon when he spun at the third corner of the Spanish circuit.

"We accomplished all we could today, really, with a couple of minor problems costing us a small amount of time and then the very windy weather making it difficult to get good data," said Jordan's Gary Anderson. "At this stage it's all about adding mileage though so I'm pleased we were able to do plenty of laps."

Canadian Jacques Villeneuve and teammate Jenson Button were in action for the BAR team, both working with the new Honda-powered 005. Villeneuve was sixth quickest after 53 laps, while Button, who replaced Takuma Sato today, finished in tenth position more than half a second behind the former World Champion.

The Sauber team joined the test today with both their drivers Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Nick Heidfeld. Both men worked with the new C22 chassis, with Frentzen finishing ahead of Heidfeld, who was hampered by an engine problem that stopped him from completing his programme.

"We are pleased at the weather conditions," said Sauber's chief engineer Jacky Eeckelaert at the end of the day. "It's been very sunny in the morning and gusty winds in the afternoon. Nick could not complete our scheduled program of aerodynamic testing because of a minor problem and we had to call him back into the pits to change the engine.

"This morning Heinz-Harald focused on mechanical set-up work and continued this afternoon with a program of dampers and tyre testing."

Toyota's Olivier Panis and Cristiano da Matta continued to put miles on the new TF103. The Brazilian CART champion was hit by mechanical problems in the morning session and finished only ahead of Briton Justin Wilson, nearly a second behind Panis.

"Our programme today was focused on comparing new components that need a bit of time to change, which explains why I did not complete so many laps," said Panis. "We did some good work and we have to carry on tomorrow to complete our evaluation.

"Strong gusts of wind made our life more difficult, changing track conditions quite a lot during the day, but generally things went quite well."

Minardi driver Wilson, working with the two-year old PS01 chassis, finished more than six seconds off the pace after 45 laps. Wilson was forced to use Avon F3000 slick tyres as his team have been unable to finalise a deal with tyre supplier Bridgestone.

"It's been a good day, which was really spent just getting used to everything," said Wilson. "It's not the most comfortable I've ever been in a race car, but for the purposes of what we were aiming to accomplish today, which was to familiarise myself with the team and their way of working, it was fine.

"I'm also particularly pleased to have made my official debut as a Formula One driver today. It has taken time to get here, but now I've arrived, it's great! I'm particularly looking forward to driving the new car as soon as it's ready."

Testing continues tomorrow.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time Laps 1. Wurz McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:11.061 77 2. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:11.611 82 3. Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:11.620 53 4. Barrichello Ferrari (B) 1:11.747 99 5. Fisichella Jordan-Ford (B) 1:12.246 53 6. Villeneuve BAR-Honda (B) 1:12.264 53 7. Panis Toyota (M) 1:12.382 47 8. Webber Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 1:12.587 45 9. Frentzen Sauber-Petronas (B) 1:12.855 71 10. Button BAR-Honda (B) 1:12.930 25 11. Heidfeld Sauber-Petronas (B) 1:13.138 56 12. Da Matta Toyota (M) 1:13.523 43 13. Wilson Minardi-European (A) 1:17.066 45 All Timing Unofficial

Visit Atlas F1's Testing Center for further information