By Josh Barnett
January 22 2005

Once again, for Minardi, the primary objective of the day's testing was to provide the drivers with the chance to acclimatise to a Formula One car, although the team's engineers also took the opportunity to evaluate some new aerodynamic components, which may be used in 2005. Power completed 22 laps and was enjoying the experience of an F1 car for the first time. His best lap was a 1 minute 11.790 seconds. "It was very, very impressive, like nothing else I've ever driven," he reflected. "You just can't describe the brakes and the power, but ultimately, it's just another car, and you have to get used to it and become physically fit enough to drive race distances in it if you're going to do F1. The track proved to be quite easy to learn – it's mostly slow and medium-speed corners, and other than the left-handers going onto the back straight, which are taken ‘flat', there are no massively quick corners. Once I'd familiarised myself with the layout, I just found the quicker I went, the more I loved it. It was huge fun!" The other Aussie on track, Davison notched up 22 laps, his best a 1 minute 11.900 seconds, around two tenths slower than Power. "That was just an awesome experience – incredible! You can prepare physically as much as you like, but nothing can really prepare you for the experience of driving a Formula One car for the first time," said Davison. "The power is amazing, although you do start to adapt to it quite quickly, but the whole package – the engine, the gears, the brakes – is just perfect. In fact, there is so much grip in the car, and the brakes are so good, that it's difficult to find the limit of the car in a short space of time, but at a test like this, that is exactly what you need to do. Personally, I feel pretty happy with the job I did today. I didn't make any mistakes, and each time I went out, I found there was something new to learn. I particularly want to thank Paul Stoddart, the engineers, and the whole Minardi team, all of whom have made me feel extremely welcome. That, in turn, hat has made my job easier. The problem is, now I've had a small taste of F1, I want more, because I definitely felt as though I was capable of doing a good job on the basis of today's experience." Nissany meanwhile who also ran on Monday, was the fastest on track. He completed 50 laps, moving on to running with the 2005 aero package in the afternoon. "All three drivers today put in a solid performance but I was particularly pleased to be able to fulfil a promise made twelve months ago to give two young Australian drivers, Will Power and Will Davison, the opportunity to realise the dream of a lifetime, by driving an F1 car," concluded team boss, Paul Stoddart.