Tom Walkinshaw, now at Ligier, has confirmed that he has bought the Arrows-Hart team with their drivers Jos Verstappen and Ricardo Rosset. The team will be registered to TWR, the company owned by the Walkinshaw. He wants to have complete control over the team before April 28, the Grand Prix of Europe. He has stated he will not change the team.
Summary:
The Benetton-Renault team dominated today's first practice sessions on the Interlagos circuit (this year with a completely new surface). Both Alesi (1:19.240) and Berger (1:19.870) were almost a second in front of both the McLarens - who seem to have found their pace again - at the end of the last session. Both Hakkinen and Coulthard were closely followed by Hill in the Williams-Renault. Jacques Villeneuve was disappointingly 15th on Friday. Verstappen did an excellent job he clocked the 8th best time of the day. Tarso Marques, new in Formula One, outpaced his team-mate Pedro Lamy.
Notes:
Ferrari driver Eddie Irvine totally wrecked his car during the morning session on his first lap. Two wheels came off the Ferrari, but he walked away from the crash unhurt. Both Hill and Villeneuve were having major grip problems with their Williams-Renaults, resulting in Hill spinning in the beginning of the last session. Frentzen had to cut his practice short due to a technical fault in his Sauber.
