AUGUST 16, 2000

Alesi testing at Monza

FRENCHMAN Jean Alesi was the first driver to try out the revamped Autodromo Nazionale di Monza circuit on Wednesday.

Alesi put his Prost car though its paces at the home of the Italian Grand Prix, which has been re-surfaced and has seen modifications to the two chicanes at the track.

The new design of the circuit has helped make lap times slower by a couple of seconds and has reduced the likelihood of a 'bottleneck' on the first lap of the race.

The new-look track, which will host the Italian Grand Prix on September 10, should also offer better drainage thanks to the new type of tarmac.

Work has also been carried out on the much-maligned kerbs, which have now been reduced in height from 10 to five centimetres.