Barcelona Testing Times, Thurs June 1st

By Karl King
June 2 2006

Gary Paffett's flash in the MP4-21 came and went rather quickly he will feel with regular driver Juan Pablo Montoya taking over testing duties from the young Brit, Montoya lining up alongside third driver Pedro de la Rosa.

As yesterday the team were focusing on suspension and aerodynamics, with Pedro and Juan Pablo looking at the Michelin's available for the ever-looming British GP.

Pedro set the 8th fastest time of the day, while the whole field were blown away by the scorching pace of Michael Schumacher who broke the lap record of the Barcelona circuit.

Juan Pablo Montoya completed 24 laps less than de la Rosa, the Columbian forced to stay in the garage for some of the morning with a clutch problem. Montoya set the twelfth fastest time of the day ahead of a busy Nick Heidfeld on a day where 17 drivers were present.

Nine teams turned up for the test yesterday, with just the underfunded teams of Midland and Super Aguri absent. McLaren plan to run again at Barcelona on Friday, with Pedro and Juan Pablo continuing their work.