10/09/2004

Grand Prix of Italy - Free Practice Report

Panasonic Toyota Racing test driver Ryan Briscoe impressed on the first day of free practice for the 2004 Formula 1's season's final European round at the historic Monza autodrome near Milan.

It was the first time that Briscoe has been able to complete both Friday sessions uninterrupted since he was given his Friday role at grands prix when Ricardo Zonta replaced Cristiano da Matta in the race team.

Briscoe set the 12th quickest Friday time a lap in 1m22.197s as compared with the 1m20.526s pace-setting best from Michael Schumacher's Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro car. Zonta lapped in 1m22.298s 14th while Panis was four places further down with a best lap of 1m22.487s. The Frenchman's progress was hampered by a persistent vibration that afflicted his Toyota TF104B in both sessions.

"It was present all day Panis said, and my consistency was not helped by a long brake pedal. The braking performance is a key element of the Monza race because the track is the fastest on the calendar and involves a lot of heavy braking into the chicanes."

Zonta added: "We did specific testing at Monza last week rather than concentrating on the car balance and so from that point of view today was very useful. We did the usual Michelin tyre comparison and we are confident that we have fond a consistent tyre for qualifying and the race."

Briscoe said: "I'm very happy with the day's work. In the second session in particular the car felt very good and it is rewarding to be involved in the general programme of the race team's weekend. This of course is one of the more historic venues and it's a pleasure to be driving at Monza."

Behind the two Ferraris Kimi Raikkonen (1m20.846s) for West McLaren Mercedes Jenson Button's Lucky Strike BAR Honda (1m21.124s) Antonio Pizzonia's BMW Williams (1m21.264s) and Takuma Sato's BAR-Honda completed the quickest six on the opening day.

Toyota's Technical Director Chassis Mike Gascoyne was particularly impressed with Briscoe's showing: "His performance especially was very good. Olivier and Ricardo struggled a little bit more and we couldn't track down Olivier's vibration which means that we will probably be changing the rear end overnight."