Problematic Paul Ricard Test Completed


Heidfeld Testing

By Phil Huff (09/05/2003)
May 9 2003

Sauber Petronas completed its three-day test at the Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet yesterday. Nick Heidfeld took over the driving from Heinz-Harald Frentzen and covered 87 laps in chassis 05. Sauber Petronas' Head of Vehicle Engineering, Jacky Eeckelaert, commented "In the morning we have done the set-up for Monaco. The test functioned as a synergy of the last two days in order to confirm the data gathered so far and Nick Heidfeld checked for us the best configuration for the race.

"The afternoon schedule started well off and we conducted more aerodynamic tests for the Austrian Grand Prix next week. But about an hour before the official end of the test and just before we wanted to finish our tyre work we experienced a drive shaft failure. This forced us to stop before our programme was completed."

Complete testing times from the last three days appear below...

P Driver Team Engine Car Tyre Best Lap Gap
1 R Schumacher Williams BMW FW25 M 1:11.221 -.---
2 Wurz McLaren Mercedes MP4-17D M 1:11.322 0.101
3 Gene Williams BMW FW25 M 1:11.919 0.698
4 Coulthard McLaren Mercedes MP4-17D M 1:12.069 0.848
5 Trulli Renault Renault R23 M 1:12.780 1.559
6 da Matta Toyota Toyota TF103 M 1:12.939 1.718
7 Zonta Toyota Toyota TF103 M 1:13.013 1.792
8 Sato BAR Honda BAR005 B 1:13.161 1.940
9 Webber Jaguar Jaguar R4 M 1:13.432 2.211
10 Panis Toyota Toyota TF103 M 1:13.574 2.353
11 Button BAR Honda BAR005 B 1:13.601 2.380
12 Davidson BAR Honda BAR005 B 1:14.041 2.820
13 Heidfeld Sauber Petronas C22 B 1:14.052 2.831
14 Frentzen Sauber Petronas C22 B 1:14.376 3.155
15 McNish Renault Renault R23 M 1:15.015 3.794

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