MARCH 23, 2001

Schumacher completes testing and heads to Brazil

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER completed his testing schedule at the Circuit de Catalunya on Friday as he now turns his attention to a seventh consecutive win at the Brazilian Grand Prix next Sunday.

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER completed his testing schedule at the Circuit de Catalunya on Friday as he now turns his attention to a seventh consecutive win at the Brazilian Grand Prix next Sunday.

World Champion Schumacher set-up his F2001 car for the Spanish Grand Prix on April 29 when traction control will be re-introduced, but his car will now be transported to Brazil ready for the next round.

"We have done some important work, both on the tire side and on the electronics, in preparation for the race here on April 29," said Schumacher, who wants to be ready for the re-introduction of traction control in the Spanish Grand Prix on that date.

British American Racing's Olivier Panis was second fastest as he completed the team's intensive testing program at the Circuit de Catalunya.

"There has been a huge effort by all at BAR Honda to deliver two race cars straight from Malaysia to Barcelona so that we could provide both drivers with cars to prepare for the Spanish Grand Prix," said BAR chief engineer Steve Farrell.

"Having not tested since before Melbourne we had a long list of development work to try out and we have achieved our objectives. We are happy with the progress."

Mika Hakkinen was third fastest in his McLaren, just ahead of Jaguar test-driver Pedro de la Rosa, who was the quickest Michelin-shod driver.

All teams that use Michelin tires tested for an hour extra as the tire company soaked the track to allow wet weather simulation testing.

Luciano Burti in a Jaguar (ninth in the times), Prost tester Stephane Sarrazin (11th) in a Prost, Giancarlo Fisichella (13th) in a Benetton, and Williams test-driver Marc Gene (14th) were the other drivers to test in the wet.

Jordan's Jarno Trulli, meanwhile, was just behind De la Rosa in the times as he concentrated on Bridgestone tire testing and brake development work.

Ferrari test-driver Luca Badoer, Hakkinen's team-mate David Coulthard, BAR's Jacques Villeneuve, and Arrows' Jos Verstappen and Enrique Bernoldi also completed a successful day of testing without any major problems.

BARCELONA TEST - FRIDAY, 23 MARCH 2001

POS

DRIVER ENTRANT TIME

1.

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER Ferrari

1:20.560

2.

OLIVIER PANIS BAR-Honda 1:20.943

3.

MIKA HAKKINEN McLaren-Mercedes 1:20.944

4.

PEDRO DE LA ROSA Jaguar 1:21.189

5.

JARNO TRULLI Jordan-Honda 1:21.236

6.

LUCA BADOER Ferrari 1:21.301

7.

DAVID COULTHARD McLaren-Mercedes 1:21.336

8.

JACQUES VILLENEUVE BAR-Honda 1:21.562

9.

LUCIANO BURTI Jaguar 1:21.901

10.

JOS VERSTAPPEN Arrows-Asiatech 1:22.023

11.

STEPHANE SARRAZIN Prost-Acer 1:22.130

12.

ENRIQUE BERNOLDI Arrows-Asiatech 1:22.219

13.

GIANCARLO FISICHELLA Benetton-Renault 1:22.241

14.

MARC GENE Williams-BMW 1:23.296