FEBRUARY 6, 2002

Fisichella leads day three of Valencia test

THE testing in Valencia got a little more crowded on Wednesday when BAR, Jaguar and Arrows joined the fray. Of the fifteen drivers on the track from eight teams, Giancarlo Fisichella was the fastest in a Jordan EJ11. Takuma Sato completed 46 laps in the new EJ12, but was three seconds off the pace of the pace of his teammate in the 2001 chassis.

Williams again tested with Juan-Pablo Montoya, Ralf Schumacher and Marc Gene, Montoya setting the fastest lap among the teammates in a FW24.

Nick Heidfeld and Felipe Massa also continued their testing duties for Sauber at the Ricard Tormo circuit Wednesday. Heidfeld was the third fastest driver on track in the new C21, and Massa was fifth fastest after an early "off".

"I had another very good test today," said Heidfeld. "The C21 is an extremely good car and driving it gives me great confidence in our ability to defend our fourth place in the constructors' championship this season. I stopped early today because the engine reached its mileage limit, and we spent the last 90 minutes analyzing this morning's data."

Jenson Button had gearbox problems in the afternoon, but not before he completed 76 laps in the new Renault R202. The young Briton's teammate Jarno Trulli continued development work in the B201.

Jacques Villeneuve and Olivier Panis both tested new 004 chassis for BAR, but Panis only managed 8 laps before going off the track, damaging the car and ending his day prematurely. Villeneuve completed 36 laps.

The Jaguar R3 was in the hands of Spaniard Pedro De la Rosa in Valencia Wednesday who was conducting set-up work, while test driver Andre Lotterer continued straight line tests at Lurcy Levis in France. The Milton Keynes based team has been working on a new floor for the R3, which they hope will improve some of it's aerodynamic problems, and expect to have it ready to test by next weekend.

Enrique Bernoldi, the only driver who we can say will definitely be driving for Arrows come March, gave the new A23 its first public test Wednesday, and was three seconds off Fisichella's pace after completing 16 laps.

Minardi continued work on the PS02 Wednesday in Valencia with teammates Mark Webber and Alex Yoong. Webber was two seconds faster than his teammate.

Testing will continue in Valencia on Thursday.

VALENCIA TEST - WEDNESDAY, 6 FEBRUARY 2002

POS

DRIVER ENTRANT TIME

1.

GIANCARLO FISICHELLA Jordan-Honda 1:13.297

2.

JUAN PABLO MONTOYA Williams-BMW 1:13.749

3.

NICK HEIDFELD Sauber-Petronas 1:14.102

4.

RALF SCHUMACHER Williams-BMW 1:14.125

5.

FELIPE MASSA Sauber-Petronas 1:14.264

6.

MARC GENE Williams-BMW 1:14.440

7.

JENSON BUTTON Renault 1:14.670

8.

JACQUES VILLENUEVE BAR-Honda 1:14.758

9.

PEDRO DE LA ROSA Jaguar-Cosworth 1:14.839

10.

TAKUMA SATO Jordan-Honda 1:16.212

11.

OLIVIER PANIS BAR-Honda 1:16.225

12.

ENRIQUE BERNOLDI Arrows-Cosworth 1:16.586

13.

JARNO TRULLI Renault 1:16.796

14.

MARK WEBBER Minardi-Asiatech 1:17.032

15.

ALEX YOONG Minardi-Asiatech 1:19.445