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Massa Leads In Monza
By Sam Cooper
August 27 2008
Ferrari's Felipe Massa continued his winning streak in Formula One today after posting the fastest lap time in testing at the Monza circuit in northern Italy. Following very closely in second place was Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver Heikki Kovalainen, who managed to get within 0.011 of Massa's best time. Nico Rosberg enjoyed a better time in the Williams after posting 3rd fastest time.

The field was extremely closely packed; just 1.1 seconds separated first to tenth places. If this is anything to go by then the three qualifying sessions next Saturday will be very exciting to watch- unlike last weekends race.... which was nothing short of boring.

Hopefully though, the low downforce configurations that the teams will be using next weekend will improve the racing, there are countless overtaking oppertunity's all over the lap, so we don't see any reason why there won't be more overtaking than last weeks race.

McLaren used today to evaluate a number of aerodynamic parts, some new, some that have been used for a long time, such as the teams bridge wing and (ugly) dumbo ears.

The team alternated between three main configurations, Bridge wing, dumbo ears and a plain wing configuration (neither the bridge wing or the dumbo ears).

Due to Monza's low downforce demands the team has adapted last years rear wing that it used in last years race, with a new one, featuring a longer gurney flap (pointed out by message board poster Mocca).

The team has also brought a low downforce spec front wing, that features a more conventional 3 pane design- in previous races the team was using a 6 or 7 pane front wing; to claw back more downforce that was needed for the race in Hungary and Valencia.

Testing will continue tomorrow with Heikki Kovalainen at the wheel.

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