Mark Webber 1:22.048
Jenson Button +1.215
Enrique Bernoldi +1.585
Tomas Scheckter +1.693
Fabrice Walfisch +1.727
Mario Haberfeld +2.095
Marc Hynes +2.476
Franck Montagny +3.047
Fernando Alonso +3.096
Darren Manning +3.348
Alex Yoong +4.809
Day 1 times:
Michael Schumacher 1:33.862
Alex Wurz + 0.106
Rubens Barrichello + 0.137
David Coulthard + 0.247
Heinz-Harald Frentzen + 0.287
Mika Salo + 0.655
Ralf Schumacher + 0.715
Mika Hakkinen + 0.726
Pedro de la Rosa + 0.845
Jarno Trulli + 1.273
Nick Heidfeld + 1.234
Jacques Villeneuve + 1.345
Jean Alesi + 1.694
Allan McNish + 1.696
Dario Franchitti + 1.715
Olivier Panis + 1.930
Tora Takagi + 2.283
Giancarlo Fisichella + 2.482
Stephane Sarrazin + 2.667
Fernando Alonso + 2.708
Juan Pablo Montoya + 2.963
Ricardo Zonta + 3.166
Luca Badoer + 3.808
Pedro Diniz + 4.062
Day 2 times:
David Coulthard 1:33.658
Alex Wurz + 0.386
Nick Heidfeld + 0.826
Mika Hakkinen + 0.860
Dario Franchitti + 0.926
Michael Schumacher + 1.191
Olivier Panis + 1.392
Heinz-Harald Frentzen + 1.703
Tora Takagi + 1.826
Rubens Barrichello + 1.930
Pedro de la Rosa + 2.022
Fernando Alonso + 2.042
Ralf Schumacher + 2.049
Mika Salo + 2.112
Jean Alesi + 2.157
Jacques Villeneuve + 2.363
Jarno Trulli + 2.375
Giancarlo Fisichella + 2.468
Allan McNish + 2.629
Juan Pablo Montoya + 3.109
Luca Badoer + 3.367
Stephane Sarrazin + 3.573
Ricardo Zonta + 3.952
Pedro Diniz + 4.854
Day 3 times:
Rubens Barrichello 1:33.669
Ralf Schumacher + 0.156
David Coulthard + 0.397
Jarno Trulli + 0.867
Juan Pablo Montoya + 0.937
Alex Wurz + 1.108
Michael Schumacher + 1.653
Mika Salo + 1.792
Mika Hakkinen + 2.062
Allan McNish + 2.280
Heinz-Harald Frentzen + 2.297
Dario Franchitti + 2.481
Pedro de la Rosa + 2.527
Jean Alesi + 2.701
Nick Heidfeld + 2.798
Ricardo Zonta + 3.077
Jacques Villeneuve + 3.111
Tora Takagi + 3.188
Giancarlo Fisichella + 3.355
Luca Badoer + 3.595
Olivier Panis + 3.883
Fernando Alonso + 4.120
Stephane Sarrazin + 4.771
Pedro Diniz + 5.496
FortiSport wrote: Testing has been completed, and the season is almost here. We at FortiSport are going to share our expectations and predictions for the 2000 season…
Back of the Pack
Minardi
1999 went well for Minardi’s standards, nabbing a point with Gene to take 10th. They also have struck up a deal with Brian Hart for exclusive use of his engines this year. However, their showing in testing is far from promising, consistently finishing in the bottom 5 positions. On the bright side, newcomer Alonso has shown flashes of potential with his P12 on the second day of testing, and the cash from the Diniz family should keep them afloat.
Drivers: Pedro Diniz, Fernando Alonso
Car: Minardi-Hart M02
Predicted WCC position: 12th
Prost
Their podium with Trulli in the ‘99 European GP was the highlight of Prost’s 1999. Works engine suppliers Peugeot want further improvement, but it seems that they’re not going to get it. Newly-signed Alesi put on respectable performances, but his teammate Sarrazin has a lot to prove, frequently finishing below the top 20 alongside Badoer, Zonta, and the Minardis. Their sponsorship deal with T-Minus is also concerning…
Drivers: Jean Alesi, Stephane Sarrazin
Car: Prost-Peugeot AP03
Predicted WCC position: 11th
Lower Midfielders
Jaguar
Expectations were high when it was announced that surprise 1999 race winners Stewart were taken over by Ford, but testing results aren’t reassuring. Frequently finishing in the lower half of the field despite the best efforts of their respectable driver lineup, they must get better over the season.
Drivers: Olivier Panis, Allan McNish
Car: Jaguar-Cosworth R1
Predicted WCC position: 10th
Panamerican
One point was all that Arrows could manage in 1999; they were very lucky to not get displaced into the double-digits thanks to Badoer’s breakdown in Europe. Cash-strapped after their poor performances and T-Minus not paying up, newly-established sports network PSN bought their naming rights and funded the team. While car gremlins proved to be an issue during testing, the PA21 occasionally demonstrated serious straight-line speed in the hands of Takagi and young sensation Montoya.
Drivers: Tora Takagi, Juan Pablo Montoya
Car: Panamerican-Supertec PA21
Predicted WCC position: 9th
Benetton
Benetton’s slide down the grid is sadly going to continue, if their testing performances are to be believed. Fisichella seemed to be out of form during testing, while Salo, fresh from his Ferrari substitute heroics in 1999, recorded some great times. Rumors believe that the early 2000s will be transition years for Enstone, as they are linked to being bought out for Renault’s comeback if that is indeed true…
Drivers: Giancarlo Fisichella, Mika Salo
Car: Benetton-Supertec B200
Predicted WCC position: 8th
Jordan
So close but yet so far in 1999, it seems that last year’s form will not continue for Jordan. They no longer have Honda’s full support due to them creating a works team of their own. Frentzen has bought his 1999 self to the new millennium, but Zonta has proved nothing to deserve a seat at Jordan, often making up the lower positions alongside Minardis. Reserve Eddie Irvine is waiting in the wings for his return, so Ricardo must deliver…
Drivers: Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Ricardo Zonta
Car: Jordan-Honda EJ10
Predicted WCC position: 7th
Best of the Rest
BAR
The laughing stocks of ‘99, BAR have had quite the glow-up over the off-season. Newcomer Franchitti has adapted well to Formula 1 in testing, and their reliability has improved to acceptable levels. Gabriele Rumi’s Fondmetal also gives them additional backing with a rebadged Supertec engine deal. With the team built around him and a competitive car to boot, now is Villeneuve’s time to shine…
Drivers: Jacques Villeneuve, Dario Franchitti
Car: BAR-Fondmetal 002
Predicted WCC position: 6th
Red Bull
Long-time sponsors Red Bull took over Sauber over the off-season and renamed the team. They made a big signing when they brought David Coulthard on board after his negotiations with McLaren and Ferrari broke down. It paid off right away, as he finished in the top four on all the days of testing. As for his teammate Badoer, he only finished in the bottom 5. Luca was signed primarily because of his Ferrari links that landed them an engine deal. But if he doesn’t deliver, his time on the grid may be up, and Hinwil-Maranello relations may not continue. The F1 community’s sympathy for Badoer after Europe 1999 may not continue for much longer…
Drivers: David Coulthard, Luca Badoer
Car: Red Bull-Petronas RB1
Predicted WCC position: 5th
Honda
If there’s something the prior teams lack, it’s a driver lineup in which both drivers can consistently deliver. Fresh from his 1999 podium with Prost, Trulli joined Honda alongside de la Rosa. Both were consistently in the upper midfield whenever the car allowed. With respectable drivers and serious effort put into the team from the parent company, we expect Honda to become a force to be reckoned with in the coming years…
Drivers: Jarno Trulli, Pedro de la Rosa
Car: Honda RA100
Predicted WCC position: 4th
Championship Contenders
McLaren
McLaren have won the last two WDC’s with Hakkinen. Joining him is reigning F3000 champion Nick Heidfeld. But their form from previous years simply isn’t there. Instead of topping the timesheets, they’re making up the lower top 10 slots. Their rivals have finally caught up to them…
Drivers: Mika Hakkinen, Nick Heidfeld
Car: McLaren-Mercedes MP4/15
Predicted WCC position: 3rd
Williams
Williams are back. After their rough 1999, they did away with Zanardi in favor of Wurz, who immediately delivered. A works partnership with BMW gives Williams the backing they need to succeed. Their car is a contender this year and outpaced McLaren during testing. The only question is, will they keep up their pre-season form?
Drivers: Ralf Schumacher, Alex Wurz
Car: Williams-BMW FW21
Predicted WCC position: 2nd
Ferrari
This year is Ferrari’s year. Dumping almost-champion Irvine in favor of Barrichello is certainly a bold move, but both he and Schumacher topped the timesheets. With McLaren falling behind over the off-season, things are all coming together for Maranello…
Drivers: Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello
Car: Ferrari F1-2000
Predicted WCC position: 1st
I knew we should have put our faith in him.