Friday April 14th, 2000

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher set the fastest time on the last day of testing at Silverstone, as BAR-Honda left a day early after Brazilian Ricardo Zonta's 275-kph crash on Thursday; the car flew out of control at Stowe Corner where Michael Schumacher broke a leg during last year's race.

BAR said today that the accident had been caused by a front suspension failure. A statement by the team said: "After careful consideration of all relevant data, plus a detailed examination of the affected component, the team's technical staff decided there was simply insufficient time to arrive at a satisfactory solution and chose the bring their involvement in the test to a premature halt."

Zonta said: "Fortunately, I do not have any ill effects from the accident and I am now going home to Brazil for a few days rest and sunshine before the British Grand Prix."

After testing today, Michael Schumacher said: "Overall, I am very happy with today, because we got a lot more work done than yesterday and therefore we have learned some new things. The car is going very well. We had no problems during the test and got through our entire programme. I really believe we have a chance of getting pole in qualifying and of winning the race next week. The times back that up."

Today's times:

Pos  Driver        Team                Driver    Laps
 1.  M.Schumacher  Ferrari             1:25.484   82
 2.  de la Rosa    Arrows-Supertec     1:25.542   44
 3.  Fisichella    Benetton-Playlife   1:25.705   52
 4.  Irvine        Jaguar-Cosworth     1:25.740   56
 5.  Panis         McLaren-Mercedes    1:25.742   69
 6.  Verstappen    Arrows-Supertec     1:25.856   60
 7.  Wurz          Benetton-Playlife   1:25.882   58
 8.  Coulthard     McLaren-Mercedes    1:25.949   88
 9.  Diniz         Sauber-Petronas     1:26.201   78
10.  R.Schumacher  Williams-BMW        1:26.498   32
11.  Herbert       Jaguar-Cosworth     1:26.500   39
12.  Button        Williams-BMW        1:26.728   33
13.  Trulli        Jordan-Mugen Honda  1:26.859   47
14.  Salo          Sauber-Petronas     1:26.898   78
15.  Mazzacane     Minardi-Fondmetal   1:28.139   47

The 2000 fastest testing time is 1:24.84 (O. Panis)
The 1999 fastest testing time is 1:25.670 (G. Fisichella)