It's moments like these...

[Minardi fan]

...which restore one's faith in humanity.

Pos Driver Nat Constructor Time Gap To 1st
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Jacques Villeneuve CDN BAR-Honda 1:26.296
2. David Coulthard GB McLaren-Mercedes 1:26.905 0.609 0.609
3. Heinz-Harald Frentzen D Jordan-Honda 1:26.992 0.087 0.696
4. Mika Hakkinen FIN McLaren-Mercedes 1:27.172 0.180 0.876
5. Ricardo Zonta BR BAR-Honda 1:27.318 0.146 1.022
6. Michael Schumacher D Ferrari 1:27.411 0.093 1.115
7. Rubens Barrichello BR Ferrari 1:27.560 0.149 1.264
8. Pedro de la Rosa E Arrows-Supertec 1:27.598 0.038 1.302
9. Marc Gene E Minardi-Ford 1:27.628 0.030 1.332
10. Mika Salo FIN Sauber-Petronas 1:27.722 0.094 1.426
11. Ralf Schumacher D Williams-BMW 1:27.800 0.078 1.504
12. Pedro Diniz BR Sauber-Petronas 1:27.935 0.135 1.639
13. Jarno Trulli I Jordan-Honda 1:28.001 0.066 1.705
14. Jean Alesi F Prost-Peugeot 1:28.277 0.276 1.981
15. Alexander Wurz A Benetton-Playlife 1:28.303 0.026 2.007
16. Eddie Irvine GB Jaguar 1:29.259 0.956 2.963
17. Gaston Mazzacane RA Minardi-Ford 1:29.364 0.105 3.068
18. Jenson Button GB Williams-BMW 1:39.806 10.442 13.510

[Liz]

(1) Craig Pollock, feeling guilty after getting Zonta fired, promises him "full support" for the remainder of the season.

(2) Pollock develops convenient case of "intestinal disorder" (having to say those words made him ill?) and retires to Switzerland.

(3) Zonta begins setting some of the fastest times in the field.

Makes ya wanna go hmmmmmmmm .....

[Minardi fan]

Like I was really pointing out BAR's good show today...

[Valve Bounce]

Well, I can't visit every thread all at once, MF. I only have an old 166 Pentium, and my internet connection is slower than a Minardi.
I still want to know last year's fastest lap at Monza to put this into perspective.

[Mr.S]

Mika qualified a 1:22.432 last year, shouldn't matter with the changes to Variante. My predition is that the top time on Saturday will be around the 25's

[Handle]

Liz: I don't mean to be critical, but I don't see what you're reading in those times about a sudden resurgence of Zonta based on the fact that Pollock may be on the way out. Yes I am aware Zonta out-tested Villeneuve recently, but the most recent testing which is posted on this thread clearly shows that Villeneuve:

a) set the fastest time
b) out-tested Zonta by 4 places
c) was over one second faster than Zonta

So, to be honest, I don't know what there is to go hmmmm... about. The only thing that is interesting is that the performance of the BAR is very good on Monza, which was to be expected since it is a low-downforce circuit which shows off that Honda engine. Villeneuve is still ahead of Zonta.

[MichaelC]

Attack the post, not the poster. Well, every rule needs an exception.

I think our dear chum Minardi Fan is revelling in the false performance of a Minardi, and the problems experienced by one J Button. Which he's entitled to do, as he is indeed (a/the)* Minardi Fan.
Now I know that Minardi has a new engine for Monza with an alleged 805bhp, but that is not going to move you from last to 10-top overnight.
I expect to see Minardi moving forward, but not quite so quickly as that.


* - Delete as applicable

[Peter Mallett]

I always like to see these test times because it raises all the hopes and expectations only for us all to come crashing down after qualifying. I suspect those quick times were set on low fuel levels whilst the slower times were set by those teams running race distance tests. If one accepts that theory its not surprising that Ferrari and Macaroon are off the pace.

Still MF can be happy while it lasts. He deserves a little light relief from a season of disappointment.

[Valve Bounce]

It is unforgivable to destroy a person's hope; for after that only despair remains.

[Liz]

I was kidding about Pollock. I'm just glad to see Zonta doing well! Can't I cheer for somebody who isn't Ferrari or McLaren - in fact, can't I cheer for somebody in Ferrari who isn't TGF? Every time I say someting good about Rubens everyone jumps on my head.

However, I refuse to concede that there are only three pilots in Formula One and I stand on my rights to cheer for anybody I happen to like.

So there.

[angst]

Can't agree with you there MichaelC - if Minardi have a half decent power unit I expect them to do very well indeed. That Brunner chap knows his stuff and that's a very tidy little car...
But I do agree about Button...just an off day, probably car problems - nothing more.

[Minardi fan]

False performance of the Minardi? Then I suppose Villeneuve's was false, as was Zonta's?

I think some people are afraid of the fact that one day, Minardi will prove everyone who slagged them off wrong.

And I can't wait to see it.

[Peter Mallett]

Originally posted by Minardi fan
False performance of the Minardi? Then I suppose Villeneuve's was false, as was Zonta's?

I think some people are afraid of the fact that one day, Minardi will prove everyone who slagged them off wrong.

And I can't wait to see it.

I think the performances of the BAR and Minardi were based on light fuel loads. Accepting that the lap times may come down to the 25's then they aren't that impressive. B'sides, as Liz says there are only three drivers in the championship at the moment plus the Brazilian guy that thinks he's good.

No Liz, nobody's jumping on your head. Its just a bit of fun. You keep on waving that RB flag and we'll find things to throw at it.

[fatbloke]

Hey - that Button bloke is 13 seconds off the pace! It must be that he's no good... hmmm... more like a problem with the car i'd say...

Of course the Minardi and BAR times are false - ALL the above times were false - it's a test... Good god!

[Jay]

I wouldn't say that they are completely false. BAR to tend to do well on low downforce circuits, such as Monza and Ferrari have admitted that they are struggling there.

However, I think the track was damp when this test was done, which might have further shaken up the times.

[Mr.S]

Mr.Fan had his fun...my turn!
Pl Driver Team Time Laps
1. Schumacher R Williams 1'25"500 58
2. Barrichello Ferrari 1'25"580 85
3. Trulli Jordan 1'26"060 81
4. de La Rosa Arrows 1'26"150 74
5. Frentzen Jordan 1'26"330 70
6. Panis McLaren 1'26"330 87
7. Button Williams 1'26"720 67
8. Schumacher M Ferrari 1'26"800 73
9. Diniz Sauber 1'27"080 37
10. Irvine Jaguar 1'27"150 83
11. Wurz Benetton 1'27"350 64
12. Salo Sauber 1'27"560 30
13. Alesi Prost 1'28"050 39
Unofficial Times

Look at that, number one on a power circuit! Shhh yes I know he is in qualifying trim but let me enjoy it. Button though was in full race trim and did 25 then 23 then 18 laps. Thats not to bad of a time considering.

[Liz]

Well, testing times and about $8.00 Canadian will get you a beer at Monza. Still, it's good to see the boys turning good laps and I am not prepared to be too critical at this stage of the game. Since we all know how it's going to come out, let's just enjoy the parts that are not pre-scripted and wait for the day when our guys have their turns to win ...

And I'm glad I saw Monza before they screwed up the Variente.

[Minardi fan]

Originally posted by Valve Bounce
It is unforgivable to destroy a person's hope; for after that only despair remains.

By the way, this is what I really thought after reading those posts.