07/06/2002

Canadian Grand Prix: Free Practice Round-Up

Panasonic Toyota Racing was boosted by a promising opening day in Montreal as the Formula 1 World Championship moves to Canada's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for round eight. Mika Salo finished up sixth fastest while Allan McNish had to be content with 20th after a problematic second session.

The track built on the Ile-Notre-Dame site of Expo 67 offers a totally different challenge to that presented by the tight Monte Carlo track a fortnight ago. In Canada the emphasis is on power traction out of the many chicanes and hairpins and braking efficiency.

Salo's eventual 1m16.259s best lap was just 0.85s slower than David Coulthard's best time of the day for West McLaren Mercedes. Both Toyota drivers had new TF102 chassis in Canada and Salo reported that an understeer problem that has troubled him at the last two grands prix was gone.

"The car is oversteering now!" he smiled "but that's better for me. And the gear ratios weren't quite right which meant that I wasn't using full throttle on the straight in order to save the engine. When we have a look at the data tonight I'm confident that we should be in good shape because the straightline speed should be strong and the braking is good."

Data gathering is actually a key part of the Montreal weekend for the team at a circuit where it hasn't previously tested or raced.

Technical Co-Ordinator Keizo Takahashi said: "During Friday's free practice the team needs to get as much information on the track as possible. To do so we use our technical partner EMC's technology. Thanks to its sophisticated software and hardware we are able to get essential data from the limited practice sessions and make analysis for qualifying and the race. It helps us to fill the gap caused by inexperience of the track."

That became even more important when Allan McNish lost much of the second session due to an oil leak.

"That was a shame for me " he said. "There is no substitute for laps. Although Montreal is not generally regarded as one of the more challenging circuits in terms of corners you still have to establish a set-up that allows you to brake late and attack the circuit with full confidence."

Team manager Ange Pasquali said: "Today was very constructive for our first day in Canada. The team worked well we learned a lot and we have a clear idea in which direction to go tomorrow."

Behind Coulthard Juan Pablo Montoya was second fastest for BMW Williams F1 Michael Schumacher third for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro Kimi Raikkonen fourth with the second McLaren-Mercedes and Ralf Schumacher fifth with the second Williams-BMW directly ahead of Salo's TF102.