FEBRUARY 17, 2001
Schumacher tests second F2001
MICHAEL SCHUMACHER tested a second F2001 chassis for the first time at Mugello on Friday as Ferrari's preparations for the defence of their double world championship stepped up another gear.
The German world champion tested the second chassis - number 208 - for the first time as development work for the 2001 season continued and he expressed his delight with the car's handling.
"This new example of the F2001 worked well right from the start, just like the first one," Schumacher said, after a four-and-a-half hour workout. "It feels exactly the same.
"We did a lot of aerodynamic work today, with tests that involved running down the main straight at a constant speed.
"Development is going according to plan and in fact, I would say we are slightly ahead of schedule as we have had less problems than at this time last year."
Schumacher completed 70 laps with a best time of one minute and 24.184 seconds.