MAY 17, 2001
Badoer boosts Ferrari with new lap record at Fiorano
FERRARI test-driver Luca Badoer boosted the team's morale by setting a new lap record at their Fiorano test-track on Wednesday.
After losing the Austrian Grand Prix and getting embroiled in controversy surrounding their team orders, Ferrari needed a lift and Badoer provided it.
Italian Badoer set the lap record of 59.540 seconds in the midst of a mammoth testing session that saw him complete 118 laps and 16 practice starts in nearly 12 hours of testing.
Badoer was testing the Ferrari team's electronics, with particular focus on traction control, and will be replaced by Rubens Barrichello and World Champion Michael Schumacher for testing on Thursday.
Minardi were also represented at Fiorano on Wednesday by their Spanish driver Fernando Alonso. He completed 43 laps with a best lap time of one minute and 02.636 seconds.