Hungary: Problems for Zonta


By Karl King
July 29 2005

Austrian Alexander Wurz set the fastest time for McLaren in what has become the norm for the first free practice session. Talking of the norm, you'd expect me to say his closest rival was Ricardo Zonta in his TF105. But no. Nor was Zonta 3rd or even in the top ten.

Ricardo Zonta set only the 16th fastest time completing 18 laps until the Brazilian tester stopped in the pit lane and had to be pushed back to his box by Toyota personnel. After a few spins on track Ricardo's car grounded to a halt in the pits with an apparent mechanical problem.

Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli again both ran conservatively in free practice completing six and eight laps to put them 10th and 11th respectively.

Japanese rival carmakers Honda's best time landed them third in Jenson Button in the hot and sunny conditions.

1 A. Wurz McLaren 1:21.411 20
2 R. Barrichello Ferrari 1:22.834 8
3 J. Button BAR 1:23.028 12
4 K. Räikkönen McLaren 1:23.159 7
5 M. Schumacher Ferrari 1:23.234 8
6 F. Massa Sauber 1:23.375 10
7 N. Heidfeld Williams 1:23.384 8
8 JP. Montoya McLaren 1:23.558 7
9 T. Sato BAR 1:23.679 11
10 R. Schumacher Toyota 1:23.706 6
11 J. Trulli Toyota 1:23.764 8
12 F. Alonso Renault 1:23.933 10
13 M. Webber Williams 1:23.918 8
14 G. Fisichella Renault 1:23.940 9
15 V. Liuzzi Red Bull 1:24.174 19
16 R. Zonta Toyota 1:24.270 18
17 J. Villeneuve Sauber 1:24.683 10
18 N. Karthikeyan Jordan 1:26.130 14
19 R. Doornbos Minardi 1:27.011 16
20 T. Monteiro Jordan 1:27.344 8
21 C. Albers Minardi 1:27.540 8
22 N. Kiesa Jordan 1:28.230 19
23 C. Nissany Minardi 1:34.319 8
24 C. Klien Red Bull no time 1
25 D. Coulthard Red Bull no time 1

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