WilliamsF1 completes final day of testing

As a result of the track conditions fast times were rules out but Juan Pablo and Antonio continued to carry out set-up work and engine testing.

For Juan Pablo his time on the track was cut short when, at the Lesmo curve, he was to slide across the moist kerbs and off the track. Juan Pablo was unhurt but the left rear tyre suspension rim were damaged. Also the front wing was torn off. Despite efforts been made to repair the car Juan Pablo's testing was at an end. Up to the time of his accident Juan Pablo had completed twenty one laps with a best time of 1m:25.828, good enough for tenth. Antonio continued the testing for the team late in the morning and did some tyre testing. Antonio completed  forty five laps, with a best time of 1m:23.764, sixth fastest. The fastest lap of the day was set by Ferrari driver Rubens Barrichello with a time of 1m:23.056.

For BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen the four days of testing left him feeling well prepared for the next Grand Prix. He said: "We have just finished a very successful test at the Monza circuit. We were completing a huge programme, mainly concerning tyre evaluation and engine development. Regarding our BMW engine we are preparing something new for the Monza race weekend, which worked well at this recent test. We feel well prepared for the last European round of the season."

Sam Michael, WilliamsF1 Chief Operations Engineer, commented on the testing by saying: "Obviously the test was hampered by bad weather yet all the rain did provide us with the opportunity to evaluate wet and intermediate tyres from Michelin. Direct attention was given to set-up and electronic work for Monza. During dry running work was carried out on suspension and gear-box development components that we evaluated. We took advantage of the break in the weather to assess the dry tyre choice for next week’s Grand Prix. Either way, wet or dry, we are well prepared for the Monza race."

For Rubens Barrichello he was to continue tyre testing for Bridgestone as well as completing an endurance test. He would complete fifty laps, with a best time of 1m:23.063. Behind the Ferrari came Jaguar's Pedro de La Rosa with a time less than two-tenths of a second slower than Barrichello, despite mechanical problems stranding the Spaniard on track. Eddie Irvine was seventh fastest in the second Jaguar.

Mika Salo and Allan McNish were third and fourth fastest respectively in their Toyota TF102s. Felipe Massa was fifth fastest in his Sauber Petronas with the team testing a number of aerodynamic configurations.

Anthony Davidson was eighth fastest in the BAR Honda, two seconds faster than fellow BAR tester Patrick Lemarie in twelfth. David Coulthard was ninth fastest in the sole McLaren Mercedes.

Renault's Jarno Trulli managed only the tenth fastest time and Jenson Button at the tail of the field in fourteenth position. The team conducted a full evaluation of the new aerodynamic package. However, Jarno Trulli suffered two engine failures. Minardi's Alex Yoong completed twenty one laps, but was a huge 3.5 seconds slower than the fastest time.