Europe 1999: Friday Practice 1
Times
P. No Driver Team - Car Time/Laps
1. 1 Hakkinen McLaren Mercedes 1:20.965 202.576 km/h
2. 16 Barrichello Stewart Ford 1:21.505 + 0:00.540
3. 2 Coulthard McLaren Mercedes 1:21.636 + 0:00.671
4. 6 R Schumacher Williams Supertec 1:21.815 + 0:00.850
5. 3 Salo Ferrari 1:22.099 + 0:01.134
6. 4 Irvine Ferrari 1:22.337 + 0:01.372
7. 11 Alesi Sauber Petronas 1:22.432 + 0:01.467
8. 22 Villeneuve BAR Supertec 1:22.529 + 0:01.564
9. 17 Herbert Stewart Ford 1:22.629 + 0:01.664
10. 9 Fishichella Benetton Playlife 1:22.629 + 0:01.664
11. 10 Wurz Benetton Playlife 1:22.747 + 0:01.782
12. 5 Zanardi Williams Supertec 1:22.846 + 0:01.881
13. 12 Diniz Sauber Petronas 1:22.966 + 0:02.001
14. 19 Trulli Prost Peugeot 1:23.053 + 0:02.088
15. 18 Panis Prost Peugeot 1:23.429 + 0:02.464
16. 7 Hill Jordan Mugen-Honda 1:23.443 + 0:02.478
17. 23 Zonta BAR Supertec 1:23.604 + 0:02.639
18. 21 Gene Minardi Ford 1:23.935 + 0:02.970
19. 20 Badoer Minardi Ford 1:24.466 + 0:03.501
20. 15 Takagi Arrows TWR 1:24.766 + 0:03.801
21. 14 de la Rosa Arrows TWR 2:53.695 + 1:32.730
22. 8 Frentzen Jordan Mugen-Honda 13:37.977 + 12:17.012
FIA Press Release
Free practice, 11.00 to 12.00
Weather conditions: sunny and breezy
Hakkinen sets early pace
Mika Hakkinen's McLaren MP4/14 set the early pace (1m 20.965s) during this morning's first stint of free practice, neither he nor team-mate David Coulthard (3rd/1m 21.636s) venturing out onto the circuit until about halfway through the session after they had let other cars clean up the track surface. "We had no problems," said Ron Dennis. "Just working on tyre selection and general set-up."
Barrichello second for Stewart
Rubens Barrichello's Stewart-Ford SF3 set second fastest time on 1m 21.505s, sustaining a deflated rear tyre possibly on debris dropped by Damon Hill's spinning Jordan. Barrichello also made a front wing change which cured escessive understeer. Johnny Herbert (9th/1m 22.629s) complained of a soft brake pedal.
Williams fourth and 12th
Ralf Schumacher (4th/1m 21.815s) and Alex Zanardi (12th/1m 22.846s) both tried different tyre compounds and chassis set-ups. Ralf was well satisfied with the feel of his car while Alex, who survived a quick spin, commented; "It's not too bad, but there is still scope for further improvement."
Salo pips Irvine at Ferrari
Mika Salo (5th/1m 22.099s) just pipped Eddie Irvine (6th/1m 22.337s). Both Ferrari F399s were fitted with revised bargeboards but Irvine complained of excessive understeer. "We've not got enough grip and can't get the best out of our tyres at the moment," said Irvine, "but I'm still quite confident about the weekend."
Alesi seventh for Sauber
Jean Alesi's Sauber-Petronas set seventh fastest time on 1m 22.432s. "The car feels nervous under braking," he said, "but otherwise it is not too bad." Pedro Diniz (13th/1m 22.966s) reported that his car was suffering from understeer going into the corners and oversteering on the exit.
Fisichella feeling confident
Giancarlo Fisichella (10th/1m 22.629s) was happy with the feel of his Benetton B199 now that it had been fitted with a new rear wing and revised bargeboards. Alexander Wurz (11th/1m 22.747s) was less satisfied. "I've got too much understeer and a general lack of grip," he said.
Trouble for Jordan
Damon Hill was the quickest Jordan Mugen-Honda, 16th on 1m 23.443s after crashing heavily when he punctured a tyre over a loose drain cover and knocked off both front and rear wings. Heinz-Harald Frentzen did not manage a single single lap due to gearbox oil pressure problems.
|
