Monza Test Round-Up
Location: Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Italy
Dates: 13-14-15 June 2006
Drivers: Olivier Panis (13); Ricardo Zonta (13); Ralf Schumacher
(14-15); Jarno Trulli (14-15). Track length: 5.793 kms
BRAKE DANCING
Panasonic Toyota Racing completed a three-day test in Monza
with both race drivers, third driver Ricardo Zonta and test
driver Olivier Panis all part of the programme. The focus
was the upcoming North American races in Montreal and Indianapolis.
Montreal is very tough on brakes and also relatively low downforce,
making Monza a representative test venue although the team
will return to the Milanese track in August to conduct its
main Italian GP set-up work.
Ralf Schumacher – Chassis TF106/09
Best lap time: 1m24.310
Total laps: 127
Total distance: 735.711kms
"We lost a bit of time with an engine electronic problem
and had a lot to get through. As well as the tyre and suspension
programme, I was also planning to try some different rear
wing arrangements before we head across the Atlantic for two
races on consecutive weekends in Montreal and Indianapolis
but we will have to leave that for a later test. The bulk
of the set-up work was successful and we hope to have strong
races in North America."
Jarno Trulli – Chassis TF106/06
Best lap time: 1m24.040
Total laps: 128
Total distance: 741.504
"It was really a typical Canada test where you concentrate
on running with less downforce than you are used to and make
sure you have as much aero stability as you can achieve under
heavy braking. And, as usual, there was a big tyre programme
to get through. I am confident that we are in a good position
now to make a solid tyre choice."
Ricardo Zonta – Chassis TF106/06
Best lap time: 1m24.660s
Total laps: 74
Total distance: 428.682kms
"The main element of my test was tyre work for Montreal
and I also did some set-up evaluation. We had some suspension
revisions to try and the aim was to verify these before the
race drivers took over for the final two days of the test.
We made some positive progress."
Olivier Panis – Chassis TF106/09
Best lap time: 1m25.420
Total laps: 78
Total distance: 451.854kms
"I was also working on Bridgestone's Montreal tyre evaluation
and that was the most important part of my programme. I was
delayed by some vibrations early on but we completed a reasonable
number of laps and made progress. The tyre choice tends to
be reasonably soft in Canada because most of the braking is
in a straight-line and so the tyres do not receive too much
punishment through sideways loading. Traction is also very
important out of the slow corners and so Montreal testing
tends to concentrate on suspension tweaks that get the best
out of the tyres under braking and then on acceleration out
of slow corners."
Gerd Pfeiffer (chief test engineer)
"For Montreal it is important to have good stability
under heavy braking, as well as good traction, so we have
been doing brake work as well as some suspension experimentation
with different cambers and so forth. Generally it has been
successful but we did lose a bit of time on Ralf's car with
an engine misfire that took some time to locate. This was
a newly built-up car and at the end of the day we solved the
problem and made progress. There has also been a full tyre
programme concentrating on both Montreal and Indianapolis."
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