FEBRUARY 5, 2003

Ferrari again quickest in Barcelona

The teams returned to Barcelona for the fifth day of testing at the Circuit de Catalunya this week, and it was the Ferrari men setting the pace again. Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello continued to work on tire and electronic development in F2002 chassis. Schumacher was able to complete over one hundred laps, setting the fastest time of the day at 1:15.103.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen was behind the wheel for Sauber in Barcelona Wednesday, while Nick Heidfeld was in Lurcy-Levis conducting straight line tests. Frentzen continued the aerodynamic program Heidfeld began earlier in the week, including testing new rear wings, before switching to a tire development program for Bridgestone in the afternoon.

Williams wrapped five days of testing Wednesday with Juan Pablo Montoya and Marc Gene. Montoya continued to put milage on the new FW25, despite being outfitted with last years aerodynamic components. Gene finished a tire development program in a FW24 he began Monday for Michelin. The team will move to Valencia next week when it will begin to test the FW25 with race set-up in mind.

McLaren continued work with race drivers David Coulthard and Kimi Raikkonen. The pair was able to complete just over seventy laps between them, finishing near the bottom of the time sheet Wednesday. McLaren will be the only team to return to the circuit Thursday to continue testing.

Olivier Panis finished Toyota's testing for the week. Panis and Cristiano Da Matta worked on aerodynamic and mechanical set-up of the new TF103, as well as worked on an intensive tire program for Bridgestone during the team's four days at the circuit.

Mark Webber occupied the bottom of the time sheet Wednesday for Jaguar. The Australian was over three and a half seconds off Schumacher's pace, and completed the fewest number of laps of any of the drivers for the day.