2007 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX ALBERT PARK, MELBOURNE
FREE PRACTICE
The Honda Racing F1 Team's Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello
commenced their 2007 season challenge today as free practice
got underway in Melbourne for the opening round of the FIA
Formula One World Championship.
The team's new 'earth' car livery made its track debut this
morning as the RA107 cars took to the Albert Park Circuit
for the first of today's two timed sessions. Under the new
Friday practice format, each session lasts for 90 minutes,
guaranteeing more activity for the crowds on the opening day
of the race weekend.
Track conditions were intermittently damp throughout both
practices today. Jenson and Rubens ended the morning session
in fifth and tenth positions respectively after all of the
teams scrambled onto a drying track in the closing stages
of the session. This afternoon, after further rain had made
the conditions even more slippery, Rubens fell foul of the
greasy last corner and spun off the track, gently nudging
the armco.
JENSON BUTTON
"We had a straightforward day working through our planned
programme and of course the changeable conditions gave me
the chance to run the Bridgestone Potenza wet tyres. It is
good to be back racing again, however we are struggling to
find a balance and our position today is a clear indication
that there is a lot of work to be done to close the gap to
where we want to be."
RUBENS BARRICHELLO
"I had quite a good day and was getting into the groove
and improving the car, apart from the small 'off' this afternoon,
which put me out of the rest of the session. I just touched
the grass, which was still wet from this morning, and that
was it. I was generally happy with my times at that point
as we were in the top ten, but overall we are aiming to do
much better. We have a lot of work to do tonight to get to
where we want to be in qualifying."
JACKY EECKELAERT
Engineering Director
"Our plan for today was to run through our usual race
preparation programme with set-up work during the morning
session, then focusing on long runs in the afternoon. In view
of the damp conditions, we adapted the programme slightly.
Rubens' afternoon was brought to an early conclusion as he
spun entering the last corner causing some damage to the car.
Unfortunately we were unable to repair it in time to take
part in the rest of the session. Jenson completed his planned
programme giving us some valuable data to study this evening
as we work to improve the balance of the car before qualifying
tomorrow."
FREE PRACTICE STATS
Drivers Car No. Chassis No. Free Practice 1 Free Practice
2
Jenson Button 7 RA107-04 15 laps 01:31.162 P5 30 laps 01:29.066
P14
Rubens Barrichello 8 RA107-02 12 laps 01:31.737 P10 12 laps
01:29.542 P15
Weather Overcast
Temperatures Air: 21-23°C Track: 23-27°C
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