Flash.(Briefs)

BAR tests...

BAR-Honda ran nine potential future Formula One drivers in a private, three-day program on a circuit at the U.K.'s Brunting-thorpe airfield. The young men were assessed on their driving, as well as their fitness and presentational skills. In attendance were Nelsinho Piquet (Nelson's son), Adam Carroll, James Rossiter and Danilo Dirani (the top-four respectively in the 2004 British Formula 3 championship); also, Macau F3 victor Alexandre Premat, Formula Nissan champion Heikki Kovalainen, Formula Renault V6 champ Jose Maria Lopez, 2003 British F3 champ Alan van der Merwe, and Nico Rosberg, son of Keke, who finished fourth in the 2004 F3 EuroSeries.

...as do others

Williams-BMW, Sauber-Petronas, Toyota, Ferrari, Jordan, BAR and the new Red Bull-Cosworth team all hit the Jerez track in Spain to continue preparations for 2005. Williams was the only team to test on day one of the four-day session, with new driver Mark Webber (1:19.036s) leading test driver Antonio Pizzonia (1:19.057s). Nick Heidfeld took over from Pizzonia on day two and drove alongside him on day three, in what appeared to be a shoot-out for the team's second seat. But bad weather prevented any meaningful comparisons and Heidfeld will test for Williams again. Sauber's Felipe Massa took advantage of a brief dry period to lead the way on day two, at 1:17s. Former world champion Jacques Villeneuve kept Sauber on top of the timesheets on a wet day three (1:22.061s), ahead of Heidfeld. Villeneuve also went quickest on the final day (1:28.345) over Ferrari test drivers Luca Badoer (1:29.191s) and Marc Gene (1:29.483s).

Used cars

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