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Panasonic Toyota Racing
Monza Test Round-Up
Dates: 24-25-26 August 2005
Drivers: Ralf Schumacher (24-25); Jarno Trulli (26); Ricardo Zonta (24-25-26); Olivier Panis (24-25) Track length: 5.793kms
Ralf Schumacher – Chassis TF105/09 (24); TF105/08 (25) Best lap time: 1m22.137s Total laps: 109 Total distance: 631.437kms
- Ralf, what was your test programme?
The plan was to shake down the latest development chassis and then do my Italian GP set-up work and tyre selection in a standard specification TF105.
- Was it successful?
On the second day I ran more than 100 laps. We did not set scintillating lap times but that was not the point. As usual we will have to wait until the race weekend to see the true picture with regard to varying fuel loads and so forth. But it was a trouble-free day of race preparation, we made our tyre choice and I was satisfied with the work we got through.
Jarno Trulli – Chassis TF105/08
Best lap time: 1m21.350s
Total laps: 115
Total distance: 666.195kms
- What was your main aim and how did the day go?
We had a strong, reliable day. We got through a lot of laps, mainly tyre testing and came to some firm conclusions for the Grand Prix. I also did some general set-up work.
- So do you have high expectations for the Italian GP?
We learned quite a lot but it was a full, busy test and some of the opposition did seem to be very quick. The front of the grid is very competitive in Formula 1 at the moment but we will analyse everything and obviously I want to score more points in my home race.
Ricardo Zonta – Chassis TF105/08 (24); TF105/09 (25 & 26) Best lap time: 1m22.007s Total laps: 105 Total distance: 608.265kms
- Ricardo, what were the aims of your schedule?
On the first day I did a lot of tyre work to help make our assessments for the Grand Prix. And Monza is very fast and you run in low downforce trim, so aerodynamic efficiency is key to strong performance. We tried some different set-up configurations and I also did some damper work before I switched to the latest development chassis.
- How did that go?
There were a couple of small issues that we wanted to address and so it was a case of data gathering rather than trying to do mileage. We will do some more work with the development car in upcoming tests.
Olivier Panis – Chassis TF105.5/01
Best lap time: 1m27.983s
Total laps: 107
Total distance: 619.851kms
- Olivier, you concentrated exclusively on V8 engine testing?
Exactly. It's only the second time we have tested the V8 engine and it looks positive. We did almost 80 laps on the first day and I wouldn't have thought that kind of mileage was possible yet, especially at a track as demanding for engines as Monza. The computer simulations showed us that a V8 would be around 5.5s per lap slower than a V10 here, and that's just how it worked out.
- But you did have one slightly worrying moment!
Just a little, although I think the spectators that always turn out for the Monza test appreciated it. We had an engine failure and I found myself going backwards at 320kph. That's not so good for the heart rate! But I didn't hit anything and there was no damage done.
- So generally the V8 programme is well on schedule?
I'm very happy with the job the Toyota engine department is doing. They are working hard and making really good progress. I did less mileage on the second day but that was always the plan. On the first day we had a new specification engine but on day two I was using the earlier engine that we first tested at Jerez, and just bringing it up to full mileage so that the team could make some data comparisons.
- How does the V8 feel to drive compared to the V10?
Not too different, actually. The vibration is less than I expected. You have to work a bit on the gear ratios because the torque in the middle of the rev range is where you notice the main difference compared with the V10.
Gerd Pfeiffer (chief test engineer)
- How would you sum up the test?
It was interesting technically because we had the latest specification chassis, the standard TF105 and also the V8 car. I was very pleased with the way the V8 test went because we did 450kms with the latest engine, which was almost three times the distance that we ran in the initial shakedown at Jerez before the summer break. The reliability was strong and Olivier's comments were very positive. With the development chassis we were running it for the first time and gathering some data that we can analyse at Cologne before doing further tests with the car.