GP2 Pre-season testing

[Adri_tifosi]

Paul Ricard Day 1

(Morning)

1 - Timo Glock - iSport - 1'14"204 - 18
2 - Antonio Pizzonia - FMSI - 1'14"282 - 28
3 - Javier Villa - Racing Engineering - 1'14"312 - 22
4 - Pastor Maldonado - Trident - 1'14"405
5 - Franck Perera - Racing Engineering - 1'14"418 - 24
6 - Luca Filippi - Super Nova - 1'14"426 - 19
7 - Lucas Di Grassi - ART - 1'14"467 - 30
8 - Kohei Hirate - Trident - 1'14"475 - 23
9 - Alexandre Negrao - Minardi/Piquet - 1'14"548 - 29
10 - Giorgio Pantano - Campos - 1'14"782 - 24
11 - Ricardo Risatti - BCN - 1'14"806 - 26
12 - Borja Garcia - Durango - 1'14"826 - 24
13 - Karun Chandhok - Durango - 1'14"983 - 32
14 - Mike Conway - Super Nova - 1'15"030 - 30
15 - Roldan Rodriguez - Minardi/Piquet - 1'15"065 - 28
16 - Andreas Zuber - iSport - 1'15"078 - 21
17 - Nicolas Lapierre - Dams - 1'15"125 - 22
18 - Michael Ammermuller - ART - 1'15"130 - 31
19 - Kazuki Nakajima - Dams - 1'15"163 - 30
20 - Jason Tahinci - FMSI - 1'15"437 - 27
21 - Andy Soucek - DPR - 1'15"484 - 11
22 - Bruno Senna - Arden - 1'15"656 - 34
23 - Adrian Zaugg - Arden - 1'16"225 - 31
24 - Christian Bakkerud - DPR - 1'16"470 - 17
25 - Sakon Yamamoto - BCN - 1'16"824 - 28
26 - Vitaly Petrov - Campos - Not Time - 3

[Suze]

Any stories behind the above, eg major problems for anyone?

[Jackman]

Originally Posted by Alex K

Di Resta is locked by Mercedes, I do not think they will pay for him to race in GP2.

Lopez did good job in Super Nova, his qual. speed was very good, I think Sears' team didn't have proper race set-up, and suffered from budget difficulties. I don't think anyone could win a race in SNIR. If you are insider you should what did Sears say and you should know Jose's version.

I know what both sides said, but at the end of the day last year was the first time in many years that Super Nova didn't win a race during the season, and I don't think their engineers suddenly forgot how to do it. But the team can only do so much: at the end of the day the nut behind the wheel has to work with the rest of the components. Lopez just didn't get it done.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Jackman

Last year was the first time in many years that Super Nova didn't win a race during the season, at the end of the day the nut behind the wheel has to work with the rest of the components. Lopez just didn't get it done.

Sorry if i've carved up your full quote but the SN-Lopez season can't be seen any other way than what you suggest Jackman.

After all his pace was there for a good proportion of the second half of the season and he didn't make the most of it. The killer blow was that devastating loss at Hockenheim where he had utterly domianted the race only to lose out in the last lap!! I still can't get over that!

On one hand i've always thought of him as a very quick driver but on the other hand he's hasn't really come through with the rest of the package has he? Still I would've thought he warranted a 3rd season just to see if he still had the fire in him to right some wrongs as it were?

Re the testing thanks for those times Adri_tifosi.

The 'faces' at the front look like what most people have predicted. I.E Timo, Antonio, but surely a few eyebrows have been raised by young Villa's pace and perhaps also that of Pastor M?

ART doubly unimpressive and Arden look at sixes and sevens so far?

[Euphony]

Wasn't Villa already strong during the last tests?

[META4]

it is still very early to think about anything obviously Glock and Pizzonia are on the pace but i guess ART , and drivers like Zuber,Fillipi,Pantano will not be so far off the pace

[hotwheels]

among newcomers, maybe yes. Definitely first time he did quite well among strong contenders. Time to pay back the confidence put in him...

[Sephirot1]

And afternoon times:

1 - Giorgio Pantano - Campos - 1'13"889 - 21 giri
2 - Borja Garcia - Durango - 1'14"436 - 11
3 - Timo Glock - iSport - 1'14"518 - 7
4 - Ricardo Risatti - BCN - 1'14"712 - 8
5 - Andreas Zuber - iSport - 1'14"984 - 26
6 - Karun Chandhok - Durango - 1'14"991 - 13
7 - Franck Perera - Racing Engineering - 1'15"190 - 6
8 - Vitaly Petrov - Campos - 1'15"238 - 20
9 - Javier Villa - Racing Engineering - 1'15"239 - 12
10 - Pastor Maldonado - Trident - 1'15"388 - 8
11 - Roldan Rodriguez - Minardi/Piquet - 1'15"776 - 9
12 - Kazuki Nakajima - Dams - 1'15"801 - 24
13 - Andy Soucek - DPR - 1'16"013 - 11
14 - Michael Ammermuller - ART - 1'16"070 - 9
15 - Alexandre Negrao - Minardi/Piquet - 1'16"288 - 6
16 - Christian Bakkerud - DPR - 1'16"343 - 13
17 - Sakon Yamamoto - BCN - 1'16"949 - 15
18 - Bruno Senna - Arden - 1'17"086 - 7
19 - Kohei Hirate - Trident - 1'18"184 - 8
20 - Lucas Di Grassi - ART - 1'19"192 - 12
21 - Adrian Zaugg - Arden - 1'20"890 - 11
22 - Mike Conway - Super Nova - 1'29"573 - 7
23 - Luca Filippi - Super Nova - senza tempo - 5
24 - Jason Tahinci - FMSI - senza tempo - 2
25 - Nicolas Lapierre - Dams - senza tempo - 5
26 - Antonio Pizzonia - FMSI - senza tempo - 0

[META4]

What happened for Pizzonia ???

[hotwheels]

not a bad start for Risatti, isn't it?

Durango, as usual, is unpredictable.

GP2 test rules are really non-sense. If these numbers are correct most of the grid did last than 10 (!!!) laps.

[Mekola]

Originally Posted by Jackman

I know what both sides said, but at the end of the day last year was the first time in many years that Super Nova didn't win a race during the season, and I don't think their engineers suddenly forgot how to do it. But the team can only do so much: at the end of the day the nut behind the wheel has to work with the rest of the components. Lopez just didn't get it done.

SuperNova didn't win in 2004 too - and his driver Patrick Friesacher won finally after he had done the move to Coloni Motorsport.
At the end of the day, I think that Conway and Filippi could help us to show the level of SuperNova more clearly this season.

[Adri_tifosi]

Great performance for Racing Engineering

[OJB]

It rained halfway through the afternoon session, so others may have got close to Pantano. Explains why laps are so low and why FMSI didn't appear. No mechanical dramas apparently but several drivers had spins.

Nice to see other teams doing well - Campos, Trident, Racing Engineering and not ART and Arden for a change. Not so keen on ART livery either.

[bella]

the art livery is a definite case of ugly tree and every branch on the way down...

it's a pretty good field this year, isn't it?

[OJB]

I think it is a very good - and even - field. I don't think ART have the best pairing out there either so I reckon we could be looking at a new champion.

Glock's an obvious candidate but Pantano has been quick in every car he has tested and I'm curious to see if he can take Campos to a race win. I reckon Maldonado and Villa could be the ones to watch this year too, but this is 1 test - a season is a different potato.

[Obizzz]

Originally Posted by OJB

Maldonado and Villa could be the ones to watch this year too, but this is 1 test - a season is a different potato.

I don't think Maldonaldo will be consistent enough to compete for the championship but I bet we'll see him on the podium a few times. He's fast but a bit risktaking.

[OJB]

Bit like Viso then - funny that... I hope he can challenge and shake it up a bit.

I really think he would have run away with World Series title but for a few problems and I believe Trident can make him a regular front runner. I'll stick to my outsider prediction.

Just a shame Danielsson isn't there to challenge him.

[Mekola]

Originally Posted by bella

the art livery is a definite case of ugly tree and every branch on the way down...

To not to say DPR liveries with the T-Minus adverts... very similar to 1999 Arrows F1 ones...

[Adri_tifosi]

Paul Ricard Day 2

Morning

1 - Lucas Di Grassi - ART - 1'10"464 - 42 giri
2 - Nicolas Lapierre - Dams - 1'11"094 - 38
3 - Alexandre Negrao - Minardi/Piquet - 1'11"122 - 26
4 - Michael Ammermuller - ART - 1'11"254 - 41
5 - Kazuki Nakajima - Dams - 1'11"378 - 27
6 - Karun Chandhok - Durango - 1'11"455 - 20
7 - Antonio Pizzonia - FMSI - 1'11"482 - 21
8 - Roldan Rodriguez - Minardi/Piquet - 1'11"617 - 28
9 - Ricardo Risatti - BCN - 1'11"689 - 28
10 - Mike Conway - Super Nova - 1'11"690 - 37
11 - Andreas Zuber - iSport - 1'11"702 - 45
12 - Borja Garcia - Durango - 1'11"935 - 21
13 - Sakon Yamamoto - BCN - 1'11"941 - 43
14 - Andy Soucek - DPR - 1'12"013 - 31
15 - Christian Bakkerud - DPR - 1'12"211 - 35
16 - Pastor Maldonado - Trident - 1'12"281 - 25
17 - Luca Filippi - Super Nova - 1'12"428 -

[chunterer]

Bit more of a familiar ring to the entrant at the top of the times wouldn't you say?

[META4]

Chandhok is still doing pretty well and no news from RE...

[Sev]

Heh, that was much more like i expected. Not a small margin either, over half a second. I guess it shows the confidence that ART have with their set up that they didn't need to push in the earlier tests.

Well done to di Grassi for beating Ammermuller though.

[Adri_tifosi]

Paul Ricard Day 2

Morning (Updated)

1 Lucas Di Grassi ART Grand Prix 1:10.464 42
2 Nicolas Lapierre DAMS 1:11.094 38
3 Alexandre Negrao Minardi Piquet Sports 1:11.122 26
4 Michael Ammermuller ART Grand Prix 1:11.254 41
5 Kazuki Nakajima DAMS 1:11.378 27
6 Karun Chandhok Durango 1:11.455 20
7 Antonio Pizzonia Petrol Ofisi FMS Int. 1:11.482 21
8 Roldan Rodriguez Minardi Piquet Sports 1:11.617 28
9 Ricardo Risatti BCN Competicion 1:11.689 28
10 Mike Conway Super Nova International 1:11.690 37
11 Andreas Zuber Isport International 1:11.702 45
12 Borja Garcia Durango 1:11.935 21
13 Sakon Yamamoto BCN Competicion 1:11.941 43
14 Andy Soucek DPR 1:12.013 31
15 Christian Bakkerud DPR 1:12.211 35 1
6 Pastor Maldonado Trident Racing 1:12.281 25
17 Luca Filippi Super Nova International 1:12.428 29
18 Vitaly Petrov Campos Grand Prix 1:12.551 21
19 Timo Glock Isport International 1:12.675 42
20 Javier Villa Racing Engineering 1:12.826 36
21 Franck Perera Racing Engineering 1:13.004 35
22 Bruno Senna Arden International 1:13.441 34
23 Adrian Zaugg Arden International 1:18.769 23
24 Kohei Hirate Trident Racing 1:22.752 9
25 Jason Tahinci Petrol Ofisi FMS Int. 1:26.761 36
26 Giorgio Pantano Campos Grand Prix 1:36.522 14

[Mekola]

No surprise to see Di Grassi faster than Ammermüller...
Excellent times by DAMS and Minardi-Piquet cars...
Arden cars still off of pace... ¿what happens with them?

[hotwheels]

Originally Posted by Mekola

No surprise to see Di Grassi faster than Ammermüller...
Excellent times by DAMS and Minardi-Piquet cars...
Arden cars still off of pace... ¿what happens with them?

Zaugg did 23 laps and still 8 seconds off? maybe different track conditions, isn't it?