Testing Monza, Italy
Driver: Jarno Trulli
Track length: 5.793 kms
WELL AND TRULLI AT HOME
Jarno Trulli opened a busy three-day test programme for Panasonic
Toyota Racing at Monza, the fastest circuit on the Formula
1 calendar, in preparation for the Italian Grand Prix, on
September 9. Jarno Trulli, in his home country, was at the
wheel and morning conditions were hot and humid with an overcast
sky later in the day. The team solved some electronic issues
early in the day and then concentrated on establishing a baseline
for the low downforce package that is crucial to strong performance
at Monza. Braking performance and feel is key to the driver
at Monza as he stops the car for the three chicanes that intersperse
a track that is full throttle for much of the lap. Without
the levels of aerodynamic downforce normally on the car, the
emphasis is on establishing a set-up that inspires confidence.
There is a compromise to be reached between running the car
low and stiff to optimise efficiency and giving the driver
a degree of comfort over Monza’s high kerbing. Jarno
will continue work adjusting to the low downforce package
tomorrow.
Jarno Trulli - Chassis TF107/03
Best lap time: 1min 24.523s
Position: 4th
Total laps: 61
Total distance: 353.373kms
“The car has quite a ‘light’ feel at Monza
because you run with the bare minimum of aerodynamic downforce
because so much of the track is flat-out. In general we got
through a decent amount of work on the set-up today before
the rain came at the end of the day. We worked on the tyres
and brakes and I was am happy with progress. The second chicane
now has a tarmac surface instead of gravel and it is good
to see that – a definite step forward.”
Gerd Pfeiffer, Test Team Manager
“We have a busy programme here at Monza, where the
car runs in a substantially different configuration from the
other circuits on the F1 schedule. We made a decent start
to the test with no significant hold-ups and strong reliability,
with just some rain at the end of the day bringing us to a
halt around 20 minutes before we planned. We have collected
a lot of data which we can analyse this evening before continuing
with Jarno in the car again tomorrow before Ralf takes over
on Thursday.”
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