Troubled time for Schumacher in Monza

Michael Schumacher and Eddie Irvine spent three days at Monza after the Hungarian Grand Prix where they ran the long wheelbase version of the F300 in preparation for the Italian Grand Prix . After overnight rain on Monday the drivers were only able to run on a dry track Tuesday afternoon with Schumacher running 54 laps and a best of 1m 26,695 secs. Irvine only ran 25 laps with a best of 1m 27,282 secs before being stopped by a transmission problem.

On Wednesday Michael Schumacher improved to 1m 25,693 secs while working on chassis set-up, although his testing was interrupted twice by off course excursions. The first time when a track rod broke and then later in the day when he went off at the Variante Ascari damaging the front wing. Irvine did a series of long runs to test the reliability of the new longer chassis. During the day the team were visited by Gianni Agnelli and then by Paolo Cantarella, the President of Fiat.

On the final day of testing on Thursday, Schumacher only ran in the afternoon testing new tyres for the Italian GP and a revised engine. He completed 45 laps with a best time of 1m 25,422 secs. Irvine ran 61 laps  (1m 26,110s) testing tyres and suspension , but stopped early due to an ignition failure. The team were satisfied with the tests, but did not hide the fact that they are concerned about the Italian GP, the race which they reckon is least suited to their car out of the four remaining this season.

On Saturday, Irvine carried out more tyre testing at Fiorano and shook down the cars for the forthcoming Belgian GP.

McLaren splits its testing

The McLaren team ran dual tests at Silverstone and Monza last week as David Coulthard ran in Monza and Mika Hakkinen at Silverstone.

Coulthard set a 1m 25,768 secs  in 60 laps after the track had dried out at Monza on Tuesday afternoon. He continued on Wednesday because of the weather delays and set a 1m 24,263 secs while tyre testing for Bridgestone in preparation for the Italian GP.

Hakkinen ran two days in Silverstone with a best of 1m 26,42 secs after 33 laps the first day and then improved to a 1m 26,04 secs on Wednesday. Test driver Ricardo Zonta set a respectable 1m 26,14 secs on Wednesday and then Nick Heidfeld ran on Thursday with a best of 1m 25,77 secs, Hakkinen and Coulthard attending a promotional even in Prague with the McLaren team.

Minardi try Mugello

The Minardi team decided to run at Mugello on Wednesday and Thursday with a single car for Nakano. It rained on both days, but the Japanese driver managed a best of 1m 31,352 secs after 61 laps. The team were trying out a new diffuser, brakes and other aerodynamic modifications. Tuero was on a visit to Argentina where he presented President Carlos Mennem with one of his helmets.

Jordan also test at Monza

Pedro de la Rosa began testing for the Jordan team on Tuesday in Monza, setting a best of 1m 27,32 secs in 44 laps after the track had dried out. He was carrying out back-to-back testing between the long and short wheelbase cars losing 45 minutes for an electrical problem and then more time because of a spin and minor damage later in the day.

Young Schumacher took over for the final two days running 80 laps on Wednesday with a best of 1m 25,57 secs in 80 laps which included a scheduled engine change. he was trying different Goodyear tyres and complained of understeer problems in the morning. "We still have problems to ride over the kerbs and under braking the car is very nervous," he pointed out.

On Thursday he ran 90 laps with a best of 1m 26,314 secs after continuing to work on the set-up.

Test drivers for Williams at Silverstone

Juan Pablo Montoya  and Max Wilson shared the Williams test program at Silverstone, Montoya running 64 laps on Tuesday with a best of 1m 26,17 secs, the best time of the day. On Wednesday he improved to a 1m 25,36 secs after 29 laps. The test has been successful. We have been doing some solid work for Mecachrome and Goodyear and Juan Pablo has put in some hard work for us," he  said. Max Wilson did some routine running on Thursday and set a  best of 1m 27,34 secs. Neither Villeneuve nor Frentzen were scheduled to take part in the test, Frentzen spending all the week in Austria where he was recovering from gastric flu which he contracted the weekend of the Hungarian GP.

Wet testing for Benetton in Magny Cours

Fisichella and Wurz ran at Nevers for three days testing different types of wet tyres on a specially hosed down track. A speeding fine and crossing of the white line was reputed to have cost the Italian around $1200 when stopped by the police on his return to Paris.

Arrows men at Silverstone

Arrows ran from Tuesday to Thursday at Silverstone with Salo running the first two days and Diniz the final day. Salo set a best of 1m 28,07 secs after 42 laps of tyre testing the first day and then improved to 1m 26,67 secs on Wednesday when he changed engine mapping and running endurance tests. Diniz tried the latest D-specification Arrows V10 engine with which he was impressed. "The results were very encouraging,' he said and their is a strong possibility that the team will use the engine at Spa , although the final decision will be made in the few days leading up to the race.

Stewart test two days

Verstappen ran 35 laps for the Stewart-Ford team on Tuesday to set a best of 1m 28,70 secs in 35 laps while working on chassis set-up. On Thursday Barrichello ran tyres and chassis set-up to record a best of 1m 26,30 secs in 55 laps, the team trying different tyre compounds and wing settings at the end of the day.

Rain upsets Sauber in Mugello

The Sauber team also chose Mugello along with Minardi and set a 1m 29,76 secs with Alesi on Tuesday. On Wednesday he planned a race distance simulation, but it was spoiled by heavy rain after just 9 laps. He was to have race proven the qualifying version of the Petronas V10. Herbert took over the running on Thursday setting a 1m 31,70secs in 51 laps before being sidelined by an engine problem. The engineers will analyse the data to decide whether to race the engine or not in Belgium.

Panis alone for Prost in Barcelona

Olivier Panis ran alone in Barcelona for three days starting on Wednesday. He ran 150 laps in total, testing new rear suspension, hydraulic differential and rear diffuser  and confirming wind tunnel data on a new front wing which may be used in Spa.