No particular problems for Michelin

The two Friday practice sessions for the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix were affected by the A1-Ring’s low-grip track surface that tends to be very dusty at the start of a race weekend but improves as more rubber is laid down. Despite this it is inevitable that drivers will be caught out as they push to find the limit.

BMW WilliamsF1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya led the pursuit of the Ferrari's at a track where he shone last season. The Colombian was less than one-tenth of a second behind Barrichello and a last-minute effort to improve was stymied when he, too, ran wide and ploughed through a gravel trap. His team-mate Ralf Schumacher was twelfth fastest after being delayed by a couple of spins.

Most Michelin teams adapted well to a track at which they were expected to perform well. McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen in fourth was best of the rest, ahead of Toyota's Allan McNish in fifth. Jaguar's Pedro de la Rosa was seventh, McLaren's David Coulthard ninth and Eddie Irvine eleventh.

For Pierre Dupasquier, Michelin Motorsport Director, he did not feel that there were any real problems.

The Michelin cars’ performance was fairly modest this morning but much stronger this afternoon, with five cars in the top 10 and Juan Pablo Montoya only a whisker slower than the Ferraris. Why the dramatic improvement?

“As we know, practice times on a Friday can be very misleading with teams running a variety of different fuel levels. It is very clear that the track was exceptionally dusty when the first session began and in those conditions it isn’t always worth pushing too hard. The track became faster as more rubber went down during the day, but generally I think the biggest difference is that some cars may have run lighter this afternoon.”

Are you happy with the performance of your primary (A) and option (B) compounds so far?

“Yes. Both worked very well but we still have to predict how the track might evolve and to examine which of them might suit different cars in certain situations. It is foreseeable that both types of tyre will be used in the race, which traditionally favours a one-stop strategy. Heavier fuel loads don’t take too much of a toll on tyres, the weight of the extra fuel is not really punitive: an extra 10 kg of fuel can make a difference less than three tenths per lap.”

The A1-Ring is probably the smoothest track Formula One cars race on. What is the biggest challenge for Michelin at a track like this, where tyre wear is minimal?

“The low grip level means we have to bring tyres that are much softer than those used in the previous race at Barcelona, which is very abrasive. But we still have to be very careful because there are a couple of corners that place extreme loads on tyres and it is vital not to go too far.”

Are you happy with the way things have gone so far?

“Yes, generally speaking. We have had no particular problems and have worked decently with our partners to prepare some days race.”