Jordan may have set the pace at Valencia on Wednesday, but Arrows grabbed the headlines. Not only did the Arrows A23 have its first run, but former Prost driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen has been confirmed as the team’s number one in place of Jos Verstappen.
Jordan may have set the pace at Valencia on Wednesday, but Arrows grabbed the headlines. Not only did the Arrows A23 have its first run, but former Prost driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen has been confirmed as the team’s number one in place of Holland’s Jos Verstappen.
“I’m very much looking forward to racing for Arrows,” Frentzen was quoted as saying by on Thursday. “The team has a fantastic facility and a lot of very talented and dedicated people. All the ingredients are there to take a major step forward and I’m convinced we will be successful.”
“We’re very pleased that Frentzen is joining the team,” said Arrows boss Tom Walkinshaw. “He is a recognised top-line driver. We are at an important stage in the development of Orange Arrows and feel that Heinz-Harald has the necessary experience to help us move forward.”
Enrique Bernoldi completed 16 laps in the Cosworth-powered A23 on Wednesday. Verstappen was notably absent from the team’s first day of testing and this added fuel to the rumours that the Dutchman was about to be replaced by Frentzen on Thursday.
It is believed that Walkinshaw opted to snap up Frentzen after Prost Grand Prix was liquidated because the German would bring the experience of three Grand Prix wins to Arrows – something other teams such as Jordan, Sauber and Renault does not have.
Frentzen will reportedly drive the A23 for the first time today and Verstappen, who had been with the team for two years, has been released from his contract.
Meanwhile, Fisichella on Wednesday topped the times in last year’s car, ahead of Juan-Pablo Montoya in the Williams FW24.
Nick Heidfeld continued his impressive form by setting the third best time for Sauber. His new team-mate, Felipe Massa, was fifth behind the other Williams-BMW of Ralf Schumacher.
The BAR Honda started its five-day, four-car test programme at the Spanish track. The team is planning to run all three BAR004s over the course of the session, as well as last year’s BAR003.
Both Jacques Villeneuve and Olivier Panis were scheduled to drive for the duration of the test, with both Ryo Fukuda and Anthony Davidson driving the BAR003 for two days each.
The team was also expecting to run a new aerodynamic package designed for the Albert Park circuit in Australia and a new Honda engine.
Panis and Villeneuve were eighth and 11th on Wednesday.
Valencia, day three (unofficial)
Pos Driver Chassis-engine Tyres Time Laps
1 Giancarlo Fisichella Jordan-Honda B 1m13,297s 65
2 Juan Pablo Montoya Williams-BMW M 1m13,649s 47
3 Nick Heidfeld Sauber-Petronas B 1m14,102s 36
4 Ralf Schumacher Williams-BMW M 1m14,125s 65
5 Felipe Massa Sauber-Petronas B 1m14,264s 39
6 Marc Gene Williams-BMW M 1m14,440s 72
7 Jenson Button Renault M 1m14,670s 57
8 Jacques Villeneuve BAR-Honda B 1m14,685s 46
9 Pedro de la Rosa Jaguar M 1m14,839s 27
10 Takuma Sato Jordan-Honda B 1m16,212s 46
11 Olivier Panis BAR-Honda B 1m16,225s 8
12 Enrique Bernoldi Arrows-Cosworth B 1m16,586s 16
13 Jarno Trulli Renault M 1m16,796s 57
14 Mark Webber Minardi-Asiatech M 1m17,032s 48
15 Alex Yoong Minardi M 1m19,445s 56
B=Bridgestone
M=Michelin