Tuesday May 14th, 2002

Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia set the quickest time on the first day of testing at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia, where three Formula One teams got back to work after the Austrian Grand Prix last Sunday.

Williams test driver Pizzonia, who completed a total of 81 laps at the wheel of the FW24, outpaced teammate Marc Gene by some three tenths of a second, as the Grove-based squad began their preparations for the Monaco Grand Prix in two weeks time.

"A useful day on the circuit," said Williams test team manager Tim Newton. "We achieved all the test objectives with tyre tests, engine mapping and some brake work."

Italian Jarno Trulli, who retired on Sunday in Austria, was third quickest with the only Renault on track today, the Pescaran being the busiest man with 83 laps completed with the Michelin-shod R202 chassis.

"It was a good day," said Renault's technical director Mike Gascoyne. "As usual, Jarno worked extremely well with a full development programme. Overall, it looks promising."

Canadian Jacques Villeneuve finished at the bottom of the timesheets, the BAR driver causing the only red flag of the session after suffering a mechanical problem in his Honda-powered machine.

Testing at Valencia will continue on Wednesday.

Today's times:

Pos  Driver        Team-Engine         Tyres  Time     Laps
 1.  Pizzonia      Williams-BMW        (M)    1:12.854  81
 2.  Gene          Williams-BMW        (M)    1:13.170  67
 3.  Trulli        Renault             (M)    1:13.572  83
 4.  Villeneuve    BAR-Honda           (B)    1:14.336  82

All Timing Unofficial