MAY 5, 2001

Schumacher tests for Ferrari

REIGNING world champion Michael Schumacher came to the wheel for Ferrari as the Italian team continued testing work at their Fiorano test track on Friday.

REIGNING world champion Michael Schumacher came to the wheel for Ferrari as the Italian team continued testing work at their Fiorano test track on Friday.

Schumacher completed 71 laps and clocked a best lap time of 59.932 seconds while trying different types of tire in the rainy conditions.

"We want to be as prepared as possible for the Austrian Grand Prix," Schumacher said. "In Barcelona we acquired a lot of useful data on electronics and we want to develop a few ideas which came out of that.

"It means that private testing is becoming even more sophisticated."

Test driver Luca Badoer concentrated on the development of Ferrari's electronic systems and completed 73 laps with a best time of one minute, 01.021 seconds.

Spaniard Fernando Alonso also completed 45 laps for Minardi as he posted a best lap time of one minute, 05.212 seconds.