JANUARY 16, 2001
Sato delighted with time-topping performance at Jerez
Sato completed 63 laps of the Spanish circuit as he outpaced team-mate Olivier Panis to set a quickest lap time of one minute and 22.765 seconds.
"Today I could concentrate on the job in hand as there was pressure on me the last time I drove the car because it was part of the driver development program," Sato said.
"I enjoyed the test and working with the engineers and I learnt a lot and made improvements. Now I know what it is like in Formula One and I'm looking forward to my next opportunity in the car."
Frenchman Panis was almost a second slower than the young Japanese driver while Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer was third ahead of Sauber's Nick Heidfeld.
Italian Badoer was forced to switch to a second car mid-way through the day after an electro-hydraulic problem scuppered his session.
Times from Monday's testing at Jerez:
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