JANUARY 9, 2002

Coulthard fastest again in Barcelona

Eighteen drivers took to the Catalunya circuit in Barcelona for testing on Wednesday in rainy conditions. The weather cooperated briefly.

EIGHTEEN drivers took to the Catalunya circuit in Barcelona for testing on Wednesday in rainy conditions. The weather cooperated briefly, however, and the track dried in the late afternoon for David Coulthard to set the fastest time for the second day in a row.

Jordan completed their first day of testing Wednesday with Giancarlo Fisichella and newcomer Takuma Sato both driving EJ11s while the other teams present completed the second or third day of their testing programs.

Jacques Villeneuve was behind the wheel of the new BAR 004 for the first time on Wednesday, while teammate Olivier Panis was in last years 003.

Eddie Irvine was the only driver other than Villeneuve in a 2002 car. Irvine completed 41 laps in the new Jaguar R3, while Pedro de la Rosa tested the interim R2C.

Both Ferrari test drivers were in action again on Wednesday. Luca Badoer was the second fastest man on the track behind Coulthard, and Luciano Burti was ninth. Badoer will test again Thursday in Barcelona while Burti heads to Ferrari's Fiorano circuit to test.

BARCELONA TEST - WEDNESDAY, 9 JANUARY 2002 POS DRIVER ENTRANT TIME 1. DAVID COULTHARD McLaren-Mercedes 1:21.157 2. LUCA BADOER Ferrari 1:21.764 3. JENSON BUTTON Renault 1:21.780 4. GIANCARLO FISICHELLA Jordan-Honda 1:22.011 5. JARNO TRULLI Renault 1:22.222 6. RALF SCHUMACHER Williams-BMW 1:22.313 7. NICK HEIDFELD Sauber-Petronas 1:22.349 8. FELIPE MASSA Sauber-Petronas 1:22.466 9. LUCIANO BURTI Ferrari 1:22.703 10. OLIVIER PANIS BAR-Honda 1:22.800 11. TAKUMA SATO Jordan-Honda 1:22.815 12. JACQUES VILLENEUVE BAR-Honda 1:22.817 13. MARC GENE Williams-BMW 1:22.949 14. KIMI RAIKKONEN McLaren-Mercedes 1:22.963 15. JUAN PABLO MONTOYA Williams-BMW 1:23.376 16. PEDRO DE LA ROSA Jaguar 1:23.586 17. EDDIE IRVINE Jaguar 1:24.920 18. ALLAN MCNISH Toyota 1:25.296