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[bud]

day two is wet....

[GianFisi]

Nice to see Fisi in the new India-fashioned car. Looks like a competetive combination to me!

[cap-dude]

Another rainy day
It just feels like a day wasted, and also a wet day wasted. Save the wet weather for some actual race weekends weather-man.

[Dutchcruijff]

Laps so far

1. T. Glock Toyota TF109 1:31.103 38 laps
2. R. Kubica BMW Sauber F1.09 1:31.327 +0.224 40 laps
3. S. Vettel Red Bull Racing RB5 1:32.288 +1.185 40 laps
4. N. Rosberg Williams FW31 1:32.712 +1,609 64 laps
5. H. Kovalainen McLaren MP4-24 1:33.371 +2,268 39 laps
6. N. Piquet Jr. Renault R29 1:33.476 +2.373 23 laps
7. G. Fisichella Force India VJM-02 1:34.179 +3,076 20 laps


Webber up next in the RB5 tomorrow.

[Denthúl]

Today's testing times are looking good. The Toyota is really impressing me at the moment, as is the Force India (for not being the at the bottom). Also, Alonso seems to get a hell of a lot more out of the Renault than Piquet at the moment, which is a good sign. Four tenths of Massa is much better than a few seconds, although this is still only testing.

[cap-dude]

Very true, Piquet does not looking promising in the slightest. Braitore has already said Piquest has a lot to prove in 09. But he seems a long way off, he could even be gone mid-season and we could see Grosjean move up.

[7UpJordan]

Very true, Piquet does not looking promising in the slightest. Braitore has already said Piquest has a lot to prove in 09. But he seems a long way off, he could even be gone mid-season and we could see Grosjean move up.

If there was a running bet on Piquet causing the first crash of the year or getting eliminated in Q1 at Melbourne, I'd stick more than a fiver on it.

Williams have done nothing but very long runs on worn tyres and various setup tinkerings for Melbourne. They have not done a single "glory run" yet. I refuse to get carried away like I did last year (which I know you're probably fed up of me saying now ) but it looks like there's lots to be unleashed from the car yet.

[EwanM]

It is too close to call this. We are seriously going to have to wait until Qually at Melbourne. I haven't a clue who can do this.
Renault are not out of it either now. But why is Alonso so much quicker than Piquet? And I mean by huge margins. Different programmes or not...

[Denthúl]

One question I must ask is why McLaren have run the 2008-spec rear wing again today? Not for the full day, but for some of it. Are they having some issues getting enough out of the 2009-spec wing in wet weather? If so, that could become a worry.

[EwanM]

Well this kinda enforces what you are saying Denthul.

Aero evaluation for Heikki Kovalainen
Jerez - McLaren Mercedes - Test day 3
03/03/09 18:53


http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/n ... 5347.shtml

Zoom
Flow visualisation in use on the rear wing of the MP4-24

Overnight rain meant the third day of testing at Jerez started on a damp track, allowing the McLaren Mercedes team to continue the wet-tyre evaluation programme it had begun yesterday.

Heikki Kovalainen made progress understanding Bridgestone’s intermediate tyre before the drying track prompted a switch in focus for the afternoon.

The MP4-24 was subsequently fitted with a 2009 front and rear wing package - for the first time in dry conditions - and Kovalainen carried out a series of set-up evaluation runs until the end of the day.



Kovalainen switched back to the 2008 MP4-23 rear wing late in the day, posting the fourth fastest time on his penultimate lap of the day the team confirmed to ESPN Racing-Live.

Lewis Hamilton takes over for the final two days of running tomorrow

Its alarming that Heikki's fastest time was set on the 2008 wing.

[cap-dude]

One interesting thing to note about testing so far, is just how quiet BMW are. No one has said anything about them. No one has mentioned the car looks fast, or even slow. Whilst talking about what cars look to make a surprise, or what cars look the most promising, there's barely a whisper of BMW. Again, as we know that's the way BMW like it. They'd rather not show their hand during testing. They sandbag constantly. I mean remember last year, a lot of us thought BMW may have slipped away from Ferrari and McLaren but of course they came out fighting, nearly grabbing pole in Melbourne.

So I'm really interested in them right now. They're probably the biggest unknown factor. Have they got a car that can fight for regular wins like they promised.

[EwanM]

I think little snippets have been said about BMW. People tout them as being the most realiable due to the lack of testing this year what with the weather etc etc.

[Denthúl]

Well this kinda enforces what you are saying Denthul.

Aero evaluation for Heikki Kovalainen
Jerez - McLaren Mercedes - Test day 3
03/03/09 18:53


http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/n ... 5347.shtml

Zoom
Flow visualisation in use on the rear wing of the MP4-24

Overnight rain meant the third day of testing at Jerez started on a damp track, allowing the McLaren Mercedes team to continue the wet-tyre evaluation programme it had begun yesterday.

Heikki Kovalainen made progress understanding Bridgestone’s intermediate tyre before the drying track prompted a switch in focus for the afternoon.

The MP4-24 was subsequently fitted with a 2009 front and rear wing package - for the first time in dry conditions - and Kovalainen carried out a series of set-up evaluation runs until the end of the day.



Kovalainen switched back to the 2008 MP4-23 rear wing late in the day, posting the fourth fastest time on his penultimate lap of the day the team confirmed to ESPN Racing-Live.

Lewis Hamilton takes over for the final two days of running tomorrow

Its alarming that Heikki's fastest time was set on the 2008 wing.

Indeed. I read somewhere that his fastest on the 2009 wing was a 1:22.something :/

[Gaz]

car might of been designed more for lewis tho? unless hekki is just that bad

i sure hope its just sandbagging

[EwanM]

car might of been designed more for lewis tho? unless hekki is just that bad

i sure hope its just sandbagging

Too early to say either way. And that doesn't explain the need to still be using the 08 wing. im sure there is a logical reason. But why are they using a piece of kit they wont be able to in a few weeks time?