JULY 3, 2000
McLaren and Ferrari rivalry set to continue in testing
THE rivalry between McLaren and Ferrari continues this week - but this time it's on the practice track.
This comes just days after McLaren's David Coulthard won the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours after battling with Michael Schumacher wheel-to-wheel for the majority of the race.
Ferrari own the Mugello circuit and McLaren had to ask permission to test there in preparation for the Austrian Grand Prix at the A1-Ring circuit, which bears similarities to Mugello. It will be McLaren's first appearance at the track.
Luca Badoer and Olivier Panis, the two teams' test drivers, will square up on Tuesday. Schumacher and Coulthard will then go head-to-head on Wednesday.
McLaren driver Mika Hakkinen will not be at the track for practice as he takes a well-earned holiday before the Austrian event.
The McLaren team will be in Italy until Friday, while Badoer will then return to Ferrari's official test track at Fiorano.
While Ferrari are testing aerodynamic packages in Italy, Minardi and Prost are also looking at aerodynamic testing at the Vairano circuit in northern Italy, and BMW-Williams and BAR-Honda will be at Estoril, Portugal, from Wednesday to Friday.
Giorgio Vinella makes his debut for Minardi on Thursday and Stephane Sarrazin makes his second outing on Friday for Prost.
Meanwhile, new modified side pods and a new flat bottom have been brought in for Heinz-Harald Frentzen as he tests for Jordan in front of English onlookers at Silverstone this week.