Hungary 1999: Friday Practice 1
Times
P. No Driver Team - Car Time/Laps
1. 1 Hakkinen McLaren Mercedes 1:20.133 178.443 km/h
2. 4 Irvine Ferrari 1:20.450 + 0:00.317
3. 2 Coulthard McLaren Mercedes 1:21.032 + 0:00.899
4. 16 Barrichello Stewart Ford 1:21.062 + 0:00.929
5. 6 R Schumacher Williams Supertec 1:21.481 + 0:01.348
6. 5 Zanardi Williams Supertec 1:21.773 + 0:01.640
7. 8 Frentzen Jordan Mugen-Honda 1:21.898 + 0:01.765
8. 3 Salo Ferrari 1:21.961 + 0:01.828
9. 17 Herbert Stewart Ford 1:22.012 + 0:01.879
10. 9 Fisichella Benetton Playlife 1:22.375 + 0:02.242
11. 19 Trulli Prost Peugeot 1:22.455 + 0:02.322
12. 7 Hill Jordan Mugen-Honda 1:22.523 + 0:02.390
13. 11 Alesi Sauber Petronas 1:22.586 + 0:02.453
14. 23 Zonta BAR Supertec 1:22.731 + 0:02.598
15. 18 Panis Prost Peugeot 1:22.734 + 0:02.601
16. 20 Badoer Minardi Ford 1:22.810 + 0:02.677
17. 15 Takagi Arrows TWR 1:23.216 + 0:03.083
18. 10 Wurz Benetton Playlife 1:23.310 + 0:03.177
19. 12 Diniz Sauber Petronas 1:23.389 + 0:03.256
20. 14 de la Rosa Arrows TWR 1:24.064 + 0:03.931
21. 21 Gene Minardi Ford 1:24.364 + 0:04.231
22. 22 Villeneuve BAR Supertec 1:24.683 + 0:04.550
107% time : 1:25.742
FIA Press Release
Free practice, 11.00 to 12.00
Weather conditions: overcast and cool
Hakkinen sets early pace
Despite a quick spin, Mika Hakkinen set the pace this morning on the dusty Hungaroring circuit, the Fnn managing a 1m 20.133s best to end up 0.317s ahead of Eddie Irvine. The other McLaren-Mercedes of David Coulthard set third fastest time on 1m 21.032s after a trouble-free run.
"The Friday morning session does not always reflect what is to follow, because the priority is trying to get through the day using just a single set of tyres on each car," said Ron Dennis. "But we had a relatively uneventful time this morning."
Ferrari gathers set-up data
Eddie Irvine wound up second fastest (1m 20.450s) for Ferrari with Mika Salo eighth (1m 21.96s), both drivers assessing a revised version of the high downforce aerodynamic package used earlier this season at Monaco. After examining this data in detail the team will decide on the weekend's set-up for the cars.
Barrichello fourth for Stewart
Rubens Barrichello wound up fourth fastest on 1m 21.062s in the Stewart-Ford SF3, happy with the car's aerodynamic balance but in need of additional grip. Johnny Herbert complained of excessive understeer and could not better ninth (1m 22.012s). Both drivers used Series 3 versions of the Ford CR-1 engine today.
Williams fifth and sixth
Ralf Schumacher (1m 21.481s) and Alex Zanardi (1m 21.773s) had generally trouble-free runs to fifth and sixth fastest times with their Williams FW21s. This afternoon it is expected that the team will try revised upper bodywork with revised top radiator exits.
Frentzen's Jordan seventh
Heinz-Harald Frentzen set seventh fastest time in the Jordan Mugen-Honda(1m 21.898s) after a relatively straightforward session gather data to confirm some recent aerodynamic work. Both Jordan 199s had centre-mounted aerofoils for additional downforce on this circuit and slightly modified front wings. Damon Hill set 12th fastest time on (1m 22.523s), running only four laps during the session.
Fisichella makes top ten
Giancarlo Fisichella made tenth fastest time on 1m 22.375s in his Benetton-Playlife, benefitting from aerodynamic testing carried out last week Lurcy-Levis. Alexander Wurz could not better 18th fastest time on 1m 23.310s.
Briefly
Both Prost-Peugeot drivers reported that they were fighting understeer. Jacques Villeneuve spun into the gravel after only five flying laps as he was gathering data for the British American Team. Ricardo Zonta (1m 22.731s) wound up 14th fastest, reporting that his car felt extremely nervous. Jean Alesi said that his Sauber-Petronas(13th on 1m 22.586s) felt very nervous over the kerbs while Pedro Diniz (19th/1m 23.389s) had gearbox problems, probably electronic or hydraulic.
Brief Commentary
In overcast conditions, all the teams bar Prost, Jordan and Ferrari got out quickly for installation laps.
Zanardi keeps lapping for 25 minutes, looking good at the top of the timesheets with Williams partner Ralf Schumacher. They are going well here... unlike Villeneuve who lost it 20 minutes into the session end got stuck in the gravel.
Hill only puts in an introductory lap thirty-five minutes into the session, then goes back to the pits. He and the Ferrari's and McLaren's decline to post times yet!
Ten minutes from the end, Barrichello posts the sessions top time, as Irvine and the McLarens come out to play. Irvine posts third, then quickest times consecutively, whilst Hakkinen spins before the pit entrance (where Salo nearly lost it shortly before).
Five minutes, and Hill posts a time ahead of Frentzen (ninth fastest) as Coulthard moves into second place. Badoer (eleventh) is looking very impressive for Minardi, as Salo struggles in sixteenth.
In the dying moments, Hakkinen posts the second quickest time - 0.055s off Irvine - as Alesi, Zonta and Panis improve slightly in the midfield. Wurz and Diniz also improve their times, but remain at the back of the pack; then Irvine pulls another 0.4s out at the top of the timesheets, before Hakkinen goes much quicker, taking the top time by a further 0.3s.
As the session closes, Salo moves into eighth behind an improved Frentzen, as Hakkinen, Irvine and Coulthard pit.
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