APRIL 18, 2001
Hakkinen tops times at Silverstone test
MIKA HAKKINEN defied cold and damp conditions, and even a flurry of snow, to post the quickest time in testing on Wednesday at the Silverstone circuit.
The typically unpredictable British weather made it difficult for the seven teams testing at the track, but Hakkinen came out on top - with his McLaren team-mate David Coulthard second quickest.
Jordan's Heinz-Harald Frentzen, who was quickest at the test on Tuesday, was third in the times behind the McLaren duo as he failed to complete tire tests in the damp and cold conditions that swept across the Northamptonshire circuit.
Frentzen's team-mate and Jordan tester Ricardo Zonta, meanwhile, tested on his own at Lurcy Levis in France.
Back at Silverstone, San Marino Grand Prix winner Ralf Schumacher was fourth quickest in his BMW-Williams, fractionally ahead of the British American Racing duo Olivier Panis and Jacques Villeneuve. Panis also lost running time with brake problems.
Schumacher's team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya was seventh quickest, ahead of Jaguar drivers Luciano Burti and Eddie Irvine.
Benetton's Jenson Button missed testing due to an injured shoulder so his team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella took over. He finished low down in 10th and caused the session to be stopped twice after his car broke down on the track.
For the second day in a row, the Prost drivers propped up the times after race driver Jean Alesi was joined by his team's new tester Jonathan Cochet.
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