Hungary: Problems for Zonta

By Karl King
July 29 2005

Austrian Alexander Wurz set the fastest time for McLaren in what has become the norm for the first free practice session. Talking of the norm, you'd expect me to say his closest rival was Ricardo Zonta in his TF105. But no. Nor was Zonta 3rd or even in the top ten.

Ricardo Zonta set only the 16th fastest time completing 18 laps until the Brazilian tester stopped in the pit lane and had to be pushed back to his box by Toyota personnel. After a few spins on track Ricardo's car grounded to a halt in the pits with an apparent mechanical problem.

Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli again both ran conservatively in free practice completing six and eight laps to put them 10th and 11th respectively.

Japanese rival carmakers Honda's best time landed them third in Jenson Button in the hot and sunny conditions.

1	A. Wurz	McLaren	1:21.411	20
2	R. Barrichello	Ferrari	1:22.834	8
3	J. Button	BAR	1:23.028	12
4	K. Räikkönen	McLaren	1:23.159	7
5	M. Schumacher	Ferrari	1:23.234	8
6	F. Massa	Sauber	1:23.375	10
7	N. Heidfeld	Williams	1:23.384	8
8	JP. Montoya	McLaren	1:23.558	7
9	T. Sato	BAR	1:23.679	11
10	R. Schumacher	Toyota	1:23.706	6
11	J. Trulli	Toyota	1:23.764	8
12	F. Alonso	Renault	1:23.933	10
13	M. Webber	Williams	1:23.918	8
14	G. Fisichella	Renault	1:23.940	9
15	V. Liuzzi	Red Bull	1:24.174	19
16	R. Zonta	Toyota	1:24.270	18
17	J. Villeneuve	Sauber	1:24.683	10
18	N. Karthikeyan	Jordan	1:26.130	14
19	R. Doornbos	Minardi	1:27.011	16
20	T. Monteiro	Jordan	1:27.344	8
21	C. Albers	Minardi	1:27.540	8
22	N. Kiesa	Jordan	1:28.230	19
23	C. Nissany	Minardi	1:34.319	8
24	C. Klien	Red Bull	no time	1
25	D. Coulthard	Red Bull	no time	1