Webber keeps on topping the times
Imola winner Mark Webber stayed at the head of the pack as the FIA Formula 3000 field made the trek to Monza for testing on Tuesday
The Super Nova star lapped the Italian GP venue, which returns to the F3000 calendar this year after an absence of many years, in 1m39.131s - despite the fact he'd never driven there before. Webber won the Imola round of the championship three days earlier, despite a cracked rib he sustained while testing for the Benetton F1 squad.
"We had a good day's testing," reported the Australian. "I enjoyed driving at Monza and it's fun to drive the car in low downforce configuration."
A number of drivers reportedly cut the first chicane in the morning session, which may suggest why Viktor Maslov surprisingly set the second quickest time for Arden Team Russia, as he is normally found at the opposite end of the lap times.
Super Nova boss David Sears commented: "Maslov was second fastest when he is normally around 20th, so it was difficult to judge which times were genuine."
Maslov's afternoon session time, when drivers were unable to cut the chicane, was some 2secs slower than the best time of the session, set by Webber's team mate Mario Haberfeld.
Antonio Pizzonia continued his good start to the season for Astromega by lapping third quickest overall, a tenth ahead of Haberfeld.
"The second session was the only correct one as everyone was crossing the chicane in the first session," said Pizzonia. "I think it was a pretty good day and we got to try a lot of different things."
David Saelens was fifth quickest for European Minardi F3000, ahead of Maslov's Arden team mate Darren Manning, German F3 champ Giorgio Pantano (Astromega) and Ricardo Sperafico (Petrobras).
Interlagos winner Justin Wilson was disappointingly only 12th quickest, languishing outside the top 10 along with Nordic team mate Tomas Enge.
Testing continues today (Wednesday).
1 Mark Webber, Super Nova, 1m39.131s
2 Viktor Maslov, Arden, 1m39.703s
3 Antonio Pizzonia, Petrobras, 1m39.729s
4 Mario Haberfeld, Super Nova, 1m39.801s
5 David Saelens, European Minardi, 1m39.814s
6 Darren Manning, Arden, 1m39.851s
7 Giorgio Pantano, Astromega, 1m39.879s
8 Ricardo Sperafico, Petrobras, 1m39.930s
9 Patrick Friesacher, Red Bull, 1m40.116s
10 Andrea Piccini, European Minardi, 1m40.152s
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