Barcelona, Spain 28 April 2002
The Circuit de Catalunya is very well known to drivers and teams as a lot of winter testing is carried out here. Generally, if a car is fast on this track, it will be on the other circuits.
Circuit de Catalunya has a good mixture of fast and slow corners with undulating bumps, so can produce a tough race. The long corners cause high tyre wear and understeer, and overtaking is difficult here so a good qualifying and pit stop strategy is crucial. The start-finish straight is one of the longest of all the F1 circuits, at close to one mile and drivers can top 190mph before braking into the first corner.
Pitstop practice makes perfect
The EJ12 should not usually be stationary for longer than ten seconds in a race pit stop, vital seconds during which 24 people converge around the car to change all four tyres and refuel. This is the definitive test of how efficiently a team works together, yet each season brings new faces to the 24-man crew who must learn how to play their part and work with their team mates. Tim Edwards, Jordan’s Team Manager, describes how the pit crew trains and practices, and explains the never-ending drive to shave off fractions of a second.
"We practise pit stops regularly, at test sessions and in the factory as well as every race weekend. We’ve made some changes to who does what, and these latest positions were practised in the factory, in Imola, and then rehearsed ‘as live’ for an hour at the Silverstone test last week. Rehearsing ‘as live’ is vital and totally different to the usual form of practice when we have a couple of guys pushing the car into position before the team carries out a practice pit stop.
Looking ahead to the Spanish Grand Prix
Giancarlo Fisichella
"Barcelona is a very technical circuit so it will be difficult for us to get the set-up just right. We have tested there a lot before the season started, though, so we have made a bit of a head-start. The test in Silverstone has helped us move forward a little, but there is still some work to do."
Fisico hopeful after practice
Giancarlo Fisichella is hopeful that he can claim a top ten qualifying position for DHL Jordan Honda tomorrow following a solid performance in a practice session dominated by Michael Schumacher's Ferrari. The Italian set the eighth fastest time with team mate Takuma Sato recovering to finish 14th after losing first practice due to the failure of an electrical sensor.
Barrichello heads final practice session
Rubens Barrichello was quickest in this morning's practice session but the presence of Nick Heidfeld's Sauber and Heinz Harald Frentzen's Arrows in the top six caused a stir. The DHL Jordan Honda team drivers Giancarlo Fisichella and Takuma Sato were disappointed to find that their cars were suffering from a lack of grip, slipping down the time sheets as a result.
Schumi on pole
Michael Schumacher claimed pole position for Ferrari after once again battling with team mate Rubens Barrichello, while Giancarlo Fisichella put his Jordan Honda in 12th place on the grid for tomorrow's Spanish Grand Prix. Team mate Takuma Sato had a difficult session, setting the 19th fastest time after suffering balance problems with his Jordan EJ12.
Jordans improve in warm-up
The DHL Jordan Honda team enjoyed a relatively promising warm-up session this morning with Takuma Sato much happier with the balance of his car and team mate Giancarlo Fisichella agreeing that the EJ12 has a good race set up. While the Ferraris and impressive Saubers headed the time sheets, Taku set the 9th fastest time and Fisi the 11th.
Fisichella and Sato out of Spanish Grand Prix
Giancarlo Fisichella retired after 5 laps of the Spanish Grand Prix when his car developed an apparent hydraulic pressure problem which forced him into the pits and out of the race, while team mate Takuma Sato retired 6 laps later after spinning off the track.
Schumacher dominates In Spain
Reigning World Champion Michael Schumacher totally dominated today's Spanish Grand Prix, leading from start to finish in his Ferrari. His only likely opposition was team mate Rubens Barrichello, but when the Brazilian driver failed to start the race due to electronics problems, the German ace was able to control the Grand Prix to take yet another comfortable finish.
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