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Formula 1 news, results and statistics when you need it |
2000 European GP News |
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Formula 1 news, results and statistics when you need it |
2000 European GP News |
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Drivers Championship Constructors
Championship European Grand Prix Friday Practice Sessions Michael Schumacher sets the fastest time of the session ahead of Jacques Villeneuve and Heinz Harald Frentzen. Jarno Trulli, Rubens Barrichello and David Coulthard make the top 6. Michael Schumacher's time is only 0.3 seconds slower than the fastest time set on Friday last year by Mika Hakkinen. Jacques Villeneuve is an impressive second less than 0.5 seconds slower than Schumacher but whether that is due to a different setup or a real improvement of the BAR remains to be seen. Both Jordan's are right behind Villeneuve followed by Barrichello and Coulthard who make the top 6. Although the conditions were cloudy and dry, the session started with a wet track and the drivers went out on wet tyres. Ricardo Zonta and Jarno Trulli were the first out of the pits with Jarno Trulli setting the first timed lap with a time of 1:34.722. He went faster on his second timed lap with a time of 1:31.021. All the other drivers with the exception of the Ferrari pair went out for an installation lap and went back into the pits. 10 minutes into the session and Ricardo Zonta and Marc Gene post timed laps in 2nd and 3rd place just behind Trulli. With 15 minutes into the session the order was Trulli, Gene, Zonta, Heidfeld, Barrichello, Button. Mazzacane was 7th with no other timed laps. 20 minutes into the session and a few more drivers set timed laps with Eddie Irvine setting the fastest time of 1:29.614 followed by his team-mate Johnny Herbert with a time of 1:29.628. The track is starting to dry and Giancarlo Fisichella is the first to go out on dry tyres. 30 minutes into the session and Fisichella sets the fastest time of 1:25.495 on dry tyres followed by Wurz who is also on dry tyres then it is Herbert, Irvine, Trulli and Gene. 6 drivers have yet to set a time including both Schumachers and David Coulthard. 35 minutes into the session and several drivers run dry tyres on a drying track with Barrichello fastest ahead of Villeneuve, Diniz, Alesi and Gene. The lap times are dropping fast. 40 minutes into the session and Ricardo Zonta sets the fastest time with a time 1:21.957 followed by Jacques Villeneuve, Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello. 15 minutes till the end of the session and it is still Ricardo Zonta ahead of David Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen. Jacques Villeneuve, Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello make the top 6. Only Heinz Harald Frentzen has not set a timed lap. 5 minutes remaining in the session with no change to the top 6. Pedro de la Rosa suffers mechanical problems while Ricardo Zonta spins but manages to recover. In the final few minutes several drivers improve their fastest times with Michael Schumacher setting the fastest time of the session ahead of Jacques Villeneuve and Heinz Harald Frentzen. Jarno Trulli, Rubens Barrichello and David Coulthard make the top 6. Click here for
the timed results Jenson Button sets the fastest time today ahead of Alexander Wurz and Mika Hakkinen. David Coulthard, Michael Schumacher and Ralf Schumacher make the top 6. This is probably the most surprising Friday practice session this season. Jenson Button is new to this circuit while Alexander Wurz is struggling this year yet they finished 1st and 2nd. In addition the fact that the top 11 are within a second is also a big surprise since the top 2 teams have been untouchable so far. While a result such as this makes the race more exciting, it is unlikely that Williams and Benetton have suddenly found the pace that matches McLaren and Ferrari. It is more likely that the top 2 teams are testing with heavier cars or used tyres while the rest are not. Drivers worth mentioning are Nick Heidfeld in 9th place while his team-mate Jean Alesi is in 18th. Marc Gene in 11th less than a second off the fastest time while Mazzacane is 21st. Rubens Barrichello is a disappointing 14th and Heinz Harald Frentzen in 15th. The order is guaranteed to changed after qualifying tomorrow ! The session started with rain falling heavily on parts of the circuit. Jean Alesi, Marc Gene and Jenson Button were the first to leave the pits. Several drivers follow including Michael Schumacher all on wet tyres. Jean Alesi sets a fastest time of 1:28.363. 5 minutes into the session and the rain stops but the track is still wet. Rubens Barrichello sets a time of 1:26.279. All drivers have come out and some are testing with tyres while others are on dry tyres. With 20 minutes into the session and only parts of the track are wet, drivers are on dry tyres but losing time in the wet areas. Fisichella and Wurz are the first to improve their times from the morning. 30 minutes into the session and it is Michael Schumacher ahead of Ricardo Zonta, Giancarlo Fisichella, Jacques Villeneuve, Heinz Harald Frentzen and Jarno Trulli. Coulthard spins but manages to recover. With 15 minutes to go, Hakkinen goes fastest ahead of Michael Schumacher, Trulli, Barrichello, Zonta and Frentzen. Eddie Irvine spun but recovered while Rubens Barrichello appears to have a problem in the pits. A lot of action starts during the last 10 minutes of the session, Alexander Wurz sets the fastest time while his team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella spins and hits the barrier. Ralf Schumacher blows the Williams BMW engine. Top 6 with 5 minutes to go, Wurz, Hakkinen, Coulthard, Michael Schumacher, Ralf Schumacher, Trulli. The session ends with a surprising Jenson Button fastest ahead of Alexander Wurz, Mika Hakkinen, David Coulthard, Michael Schumacher and Ralf Schumacher. Only 1 second separates the top 11 and Jenson Button's time is almost 1 second faster than the fastest time set on Friday here last year. Click here for
the timed results |
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