Massa fastest at Monza test
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-09-01 13:28 Felipe Massa put Ferrari back
on top on the final day of Formula One’s mammoth Monza test, with the fastest
lap time of the three days.
Brazilian Massa, 25, who took his first Formula One win in Turkey at the
weekend, set the pace in 1:21.114 after completing 86 laps of the circuit in
northern Italy.
Massa was eight tenths of a second faster than world champion Fernando Alonso
– giving a clear indication that Ferrari and their Bridgestone tyres will have
an advantage in next weekend's Italian Grand Prix.
To underline that fact, Massa's seven-time world champion team-mate Michael
Schumacher, was fourth fastest – surprisingly behind Austrian Christian Klien in
a Red Bull.
Renault's next highest driver, by contrast, was Finnish test driver Heikki
Kovalainen in 11th.
Honda, who were running their 2007-specification engine for the first time,
suffered a terrible day.
First, Brazilian Rubens Barrichello's engine then let go in a big way –
forcing him to switch back to a current unit.
Then, Hungarian Grand Prix winner Jenson Button had a heavy crash at the
ultra-fast Parabolica corner, leaving the Briton with a sore neck.
German Ralf Schumacher was the slowest runner of the day for Toyota.
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