DECEMBER 12, 2002

Testing continues in Spain

Pre-season testing continued Thursday in with six of the teams working at the Jerez and Barcelona circuits.

Ferrari and Sauber were in Barcelona for the second straight day. Nick Heidfeld and Heinz-Harald Frentzen were in action for Sauber, while Luca Badoer and Rubens Barrichello tested for Ferrari. Thick fog slowed progress in the morning, but the four drivers were able to run successfully all afternoon.

In Barcelona, it was Fernando Alonso leading the eight drivers testing at the Circuit de Catalunya. The Spaniard nipped McLaren test driver Alexander Wurz on the timesheet by just under a tenth of a second.

Jarno Trulli joined Alonso for Renault, while Wurz was joined by Kimi Raikkonen, who completed 35 laps, finishing fourth fastest.

Williams tested with Ralf Schumacher and Marc Gene, and Jaguar worked with teammates Antonio Pizzonia and Mark Webber.

Testing will continue Friday at both circuits.