Barcelona test day 1

Tonio was given an unexpected day in the cockpit of the VJM01 today at the team’s final test of 2008, after Giancarlo Fisichella was sidelined by a dental problem. With the team not due to run again until 2009 – when they have modified their chassis for the new Mercedes engine – the team focused on evaluating the slick tyres. Tonio, who shared the car with Adrian Sutil, was able to do 86 laps. He set a fastest time of 1:23.794, more than 3 seconds slower then the fastest man today: Takuma Sato in his Toro Rosso car. Testing continues tomorrow at the Barcelona circuit in Spain.