JULY 6, 2000

Schumacher out-paces Coulthard at Mugello test

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER gained revenge on his French Grand Prix defeat to David Coulthard by out-pacing his rival in a testing session at Mugello on Thursday.

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER gained revenge on his French Grand Prix defeat to David Coulthard by out-pacing his rival in a testing session at Mugello on Thursday.

Schumacher powered his Ferrari around the Mugello track in one minute and 26.306 seconds, almost two seconds ahead of Coulthard's McLaren. The Scot's quickest lap time was one minute and 28.548 seconds.

"We tested the car's aerodynamics in preparation for the Austrian Grand Prix next week," said Schumacher. "We also continued the tire work started on Wednesday."

Schumacher completed 98 laps, compared to just 28 laps from Coulthard, as the McLaren test-driver Olivier Panis topped the day's times.

Ferrari test-driver Luca Badoer was sandwiched between Schumacher and Coulthard in the times, and while Schumacher continues testing at Mugello on Friday, Badoer will test at Fiorano.

Times after Thursday's testing session at Mugello:

POS DRIVER ENTRANT TIME
Olivier Panis McLaren 1:26.269
Michael Schumacher Ferrari 1:26.306
Luca Badoer Ferrari 1:27.518
David Coulthard McLaren 1:28.548