Toyota F1 wraps up Mugello Test

TF104
By Toyota F1 Media
May 2 2004

The Toyota F1 team wrapped up their three day test at Mugello, in preparation for the next race in Spain. The team would spend the three days covering such areas as tyres for Spain, strategy, as well as working on imroving the overall speed of the TF104.

Mugello Test Roundup

Dates: 27-30 April 2004 Location: Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, Italy Drivers: Cristiano da Matta (27-28), Olivier Panis (29-30), Ricardo Zonta (27-30) Track Length: 5.245km Cristiano da Matta Total laps: 178 Best Lap Time: 1m20.453s Chassis: TF104/06 "Mugello is a track with a good mix of high speed and low speed corners, so it makes for good preparation for a lot of different circuits. We spent the first day doing general set-up work for the season ahead. I struggled early on with understeer, but after we sorted out that problem I put in some useful running. On Wednesday we worked on our Michelin tyres for the Spanish Grand Prix. We've been relatively strong in testing at Barcelona, so hopefully the track will suit our car a little bit better than some of the other tracks so far this year. That means we can aim for a repeat of last year, when I scored my first F1 points." Ricardo Zonta Total laps: 360 Best Lap Time: 1m20.120s Chassis: TF104/05 "I've had another long week of testing mileage at Mugello, which is a physically demanding track. On the first day I put in over 100 laps, completing a programme working on brakes and strategy. On Wednesday we were working on tyre comparisons for the Spanish Grand Prix, although my day was interrupted by a hydraulic problem in the afternoon. On Thursday, we concentrated on more long runs, along with some traction control tuning and work on cooling systems. Overall, it's been a busy week, we've tried a lot of things and made a few small improvements to the car as we prepare for Barcelona." Olivier Panis Total laps: 107 Best Lap Time: 1m20.113s Chassis: TF104/06 "This was a good test, even though we had reduced running time because of the rain on the last day. On Thursday I put in a lot of work to adjust the car for me, as well as working on braking and going over kerbs. By the afternoon the track had changed a lot, but we found a good set-up and the car was feeling better. We also had a successful test of tyre compounds for the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona on May 9. Although I had to stop for a precautionary engine change in the afternoon, Ricardo covered the rest of the work we had planned."

Driver	Chassis	Best Lap	Laps	Working on
Tuesday 27 April - Sunny start, turning cloudy early in the afternoon
Cristiano da Matta	TF104/06	1m21.610s	77	Set-up work for various circuits
Ricardo Zonta	TF104/05	1m21.680s	101	Brakes, strategy
Wednesday 28 April - Sunny and warm with occasional cloud
Cristiano da Matta	TF104/06	1m20.453s	101	Tyres for Spanish GP
Ricardo Zonta	TF104/05	1m20.671s	72	Tyres for Spanish GP
Thursday 29 April - Early fog, cloudy all day with intermittent rain in the afternoon
Olivier Panis	TF104/06	1m20.113s	51	Set-up work, tyres
Ricardo Zonta	TF104/05	1m20.120s	132	Tyres, cooling systems
Friday 30 April - Rain in the morning, wet track drying out late on
Olivier Panis	TF104/06	1m21.835s	56	Wet and dry tyres set-ups, software
Ricardo Zonta	TF104/05	1m22.630s	55	Wet mapping, software