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Montoya Ups the Ante in Valencia Testing
Juan-Pablo Montoya set the fastest time on the opening day of Formula 1 testing at Valencia. The Williams/BMW driver improved in the afternoon session to outpace McLaren/Mercedes’ Kimi Raikkonen, setting a fastest lap of 1:13.875.
Sauber's Nick Heidfeld set the third-fastest time, ahead of McLaren tester Alex Wurz. Giorgio Pantano set a best time of 1:15.531 in his Williams, which topped the best time of the team's regular test driver Marc Gene.
Renault's Jarno Tulli set the fifth-fastest time. The French manufacturer had spent the day evaluating the team’s hybrid chassis, which combines Renault’s 2003 mechanical package with this season's aerodynamic package.
"We are quite satisfied with the first day of testing with the interim car,” technical director Mike Gascoyne said. “We didn't experience any mechanical problems and we were able to complete our program."
Valencia afternoon times (unofficial):
Pos Driver (Team) Time
1) Juan-Pablo Montoya (Williams-BMW) 1:13.346
2) Kimi Raikkonen (McLaren-Mercedes) 1:13.574
3) Nick Heidfeld (Sauber-Petronas) 1:15.017
4) Alex Wurz (McLaren-Mercedes) 1:15.097
5) Jarno Trulli (Renault) 1:15.376
6) Giorgio Pantano (Williams-BMW) 1:15.531
7) Marc Gene (Williams-BMW) 1:15.958
8) Franck Motagny (Minardi-European) 1:17.031
9) Sergey Zlobin (Minardi-European) 1:17.302
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