Silverstone Test Day Two: Heikki Goes Top, Fisi Goes Off

The second day of the Silverstone test has wrapped up and despite the odd shower, most teams had a reasonably productive day. Heikki Kovalainen went fastest in the McLaren MP4-23 and edged out the improved Toyota of Jarno Trulli. With test driver Kamui Kobayashi going fourth yesterday it would seem that Trulli and Glock’s recent results were not flashes in the pans, but actual improvement. Jarno was focused on set up work for the British Grand Prix and covered 95 laps.

There was a lot of gusting wind out there today, which can make direct comparisons difficult. Still, we made some progress with our set-up and aerodynamics programme. We are obviously looking to build on our result at last Sunday’s French Grand Prix. Now I hope we will be in good shape for another strong race here next week. Jarno Trulli.

Nico Rosberg ran well in the Williams and Nelson Piquet also had a moan about the windy conditions in Northamptonshire today. Piquet was also quelling the media who have been suggesting that he has only a limited number of races to improve his form. While Piquet may believe this to not be the case, Renault chiefs weren’t so hesitant to lay it on the line last month.

And for comedy value (because he was uninjured), Force India used their new engine cover fin today on Fisichella’s car, designed to improve stability now that the standard ECU on the cars limits the engine braking and can make the car unstable under heavy braking. Unfortunately though, Giancarlo Fisichella had a sizeable shunt going through the fast Becketts Complex and had stop testing for the rest of the day. The team have said (and this is the comedy bit) that Fisichella was caught out by a change in grip, and this was likely caused by a gust of wind and destabilised the car. Fisichella was taken to the medical centre as a precaution, but all is well with the Italian.

The car felt quicker even though the balance was not so good because of the high winds. Unfortunately I just got caught out by a change in grip and balance going through Becketts and went off the track and hit the barriers. I wasn’t hurt at all, but I did not take my hands off the wheel and they had to do some checks to make sure my wrist was okay. Giancarlo Fisichella.

The teams will be action again tomorrow as the test continues.

Silverstone Test: Day Two Times