APRIL 16, 2002

McLarens leads Toyotas at Mugello test

WHILE the majority of the teams were at Silverstone preparing for the Spanish GP in two weeks, McLaren and Toyota conducted their testing programs at the Mugello circuit.

McLaren test driver Alexander Wurz and Jean Alesi, conducting his second test of the year for the Woking-based team, led the two Toyotas by more than a second at the Italian circuit Tuesday.

Alesi was asked to test for the team for a second time as they continue work out problems with the underpowered Mercedes V10. The Frenchman, who is competing in the DTM championship with Mercedes in 2002, commented on how much he would like to continue to test for the team in the future, and his manager, Mario Miyakawa, hinted that a testing contract for the F1 veteran may be in the making.

Kimi Raikkonen will take Alesi's place on Wednesday, as Alesi must prepare for his DTM debut at Hockenheim this coming weekend.

Both Mika Salo and Allan McNish tested for Toyota. Salo, the faster of the two on Tuesday, conducted aerodynamic and general set-up tests before his engine failed after 58 laps. McNish completed 66 laps, concentrating on improving mechanical grip of the car.

MUGELLO TEST - TUESDAY, 16 APRIL 2002

POS

DRIVER ENTRANT TIME

1.

ALEXANDER WURZ McLaren-Mercedes 1:23.288

2.

JEAN ALESI McLaren-Mercedes 1:23.968

3.

MIKA SALO Toyota 1:25.453

4.

ALLAN MCNISH Toyota 1:26.807