01.02.2004 DAY TWO OF TESTING FOR THE NEW FERRARI F2004 AND MICHAEL SCHUMACHER BREAKS THE FIORANO RECORD

Yesterday was the second day on track for Ferrari's new F1 car, the F2004 which was launched last Monday, at the team's private test facility. Michael Schumacher ran the new car, an evolution of last year title winning F2003-GA, out on the Fiorano track for the first time on Friday, covering 34 laps with a best time of 56.835.

After a cautious first day when the car was given a thorough shakedown, Michael Schumacher, again behind the wheel, got down to some serious running and put in a total of 100 laps, with his fastest lap in 56.279, breaking the lap record at Fiorano.

Running oncurrently yesterday morning, Luca Badoer completed the electronics test programme begun on Friday. He ran a total of 23 laps, with the quickest being a 56.852.

The whole team were delighted with the F2004's pace and are quietly confident that they have produced another winner. As Ferrari race to have the new car, which has hit the track well behind rival cars from Williams and McLaren, reliable in time for the opening Grand Prix in Australia, Michael Schumacher will continue development of the F2004 at the track again today as an intensive test program gets underway.

Circuit: Fiorano track, 2.976 km - short course 1.413 km; Drivers: Michael Schumacher and Luca Badoer; Cars: F2004 and F2003-GA; Weather: air temperature 2/5/3°C, track 3/10/6 °C. Cloudy.