18/06/2004

Grand Prix of USA - Free Practice Report

Panasonic Toyota Racing made a strong start to the US Grand Prix weekend at Indianapolis with all three of its drivers featuring in the top 10 positions after the first day of free practice.

Cristiano da Matta lapped in 1m11.893s the seventh quickest time of the day with Olivier Panis and Ricardo Zonta eighth and ninth respectively on 1m11.994s and 1m12.019s.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway as well as being one of the most historic and evocative racing venues anywhere in the world also presents Formula 1 cars with an interesting challenge. They don't of course use the famous 2.5-mile banked oval on which the Indy 500 - the world's highest attended single venue sporting event - is run. Instead they use the banked Turns 1 and 2 of the famous Speedway plus the front straight but run in the opposite direction. The turns are linked by the tight road course infield built specially for Formula 1 which gives the teams a set-up dilemma.

In an ideal world teams would run more downforce for the infield at the cost of some straightline speed. That would ultimately give a slightly quicker lap time but with cars having to start the race in the configuration that they qualify it also means being left vulnerable to those with a higher top speed in racing conditions.

"It's an interesting challenge here said Da Matta, and I think we are in decent shape although we will only really know where we are tomorrow. Indy is also the circuit where engines are at continuous full throttle for the longest period - more than 20 seconds. You need strong power and good reliability which should play to our strengths."

Panis added: "It's a positive start for us and I personally still have some room for improvement because I was held up on my best lap."

Third driver Zonta explained: "I raced here in 2000 (with BAR) but it did take me some time to relearn the circuit. We seem to be going quite well but on my last set of new tyres I came out in traffic and backed off to create a bit of space. But doing that meant that I lost some brake temperature so overall there was a bit more to be had from the car."

Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro's Rubens Barrichello (1m10.365s) set the quickest time of the day ahead of Lucky Strike BAR Honda test driver Anthony Davidson (1m10.967s). BMW Williams F1 Team driver Juan Pablo Montoya (1m10.982s) was third quickest ahead of Michael Schumacher (1m11.036s) with the second Ferrari. Jenson Button's BAR Honda was fifth.

Technical Director Chassis Mike Gascoyne said: "Today was largely about evaluating the Michelin tyre compounds and all three drivers did see some significant drop-off from the rear tyres in the opening session but the track was still quite green. Overall we have made a strong start and it is good to see all three drivers in the top 10."

Olivier Panis celebrates his 150th Grand Prix this weekend and the team will have an informal media event in the paddock after qualifying tomorrow where specially produced merchandise will be distributed to those journalists attending.