By Phil Giles
June 18 2003

Silverstone testing day two again saw a distinct lack of the Jordan F1 Team, despite Silverstone staff being convinced that the team were booked in to test.

Revealingly, a chat with some of the Silverstone staff showed that Jordan were supposed to be there, however a muck up with flights meant that the cars, despite being crated and ready to leave on Sunday were only due to leave Canada today.  Even with the earliest flight, there would be no way that the cars or the team could attend tomorrows final day.  Eddie is apparently fuming at this major balls up, as are one or two of the staff at Silverstone.  Even Mclaren's hospitality consisted of a show car and a Mercedes Benz pace car.  No actual car, no drivers, no personnel.  They're all in sunny Jerez testing this week.

Still again despite the lack of Jordan, there was plenty more to see at today's test.  In a total turn around from yesterday, the skies were dull and overcast and it threatened to hammer down by the end of the day.

The same teams were there again today.  BAR however had changed drivers and both Jenson and Jacques were on duty.  Most of the installation laps went swimmingly, however Jenson Button had only left the pit lane than the engine died and he pulled off onto the international circuit for the first BAR recovery of the day.

Reliability became a major problem for BAR.  A fire in the pit garage and another off involving Jacques put pay to their day.  However before the session finished, they were back out on track putting in the laps.

Another notable off was again Rubens Barrichello.  I was on the other side of the circuit but it was just visible through a telephoto lens that the car had stopped on Abbey Straight, not far from where he pulled over yesterday.

The drizzle set in just towards the end of the session, however the teams were untroubled by the moisture and continued to run on their slick tyres.  There should be more of the same tomorrow and you may need to wrap up as there was a strong breeze blowing over the Northamptonshire Circuit. 

We won't be seeing Jordan but there's still plenty of action.