By Bridgestone Press Release
May 30 2004

The four Bridgestone equipped teams have had a busy, but troubling first day’s running at the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring. Ferrari drivers Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello set the second and third fastest times this morning at the Nurburgring before spending the afternoon session further assessing their tyre and set up choices for the race. Schumacher lost time in the second session due to a hydraulic problem but the reigning champion should be back on top form tomorrow morning.

Meanwhile, both Giancarlo Fisichella and Felipe Massa of the Sauber Petronas team also lost track time. Fisichella has had an engine change which will see him incur a ten-place penalty to his qualifying grid position whilst Massa’s problem should pose no further worries. The Jordan Ford and Wilux Minardi Cosworth drivers, meanwhile, have been working hard and after their respective successes in Monaco, have their sights set on further good results this weekend.

Hisao Suganuma, Bridgestone Motorsport Technical Manager:

"As always, the Bridgestone teams spent the two Friday practice sessions evaluating their two tyre specifications. Preliminary results show that our teams should find either of their choices competitive on Sunday. The track was quite green this morning but reasonable in the afternoon enabling us to obtain plenty of information. Michael unfortunately did not get many laps this afternoon and similarly, Sauber’s Giancarlo and Felipe also lost track time today. This should not pose a problem though to the teams when it comes to making their final tyre choice, which will be done this evening."

Ross Brawn, Ferrari Technical Director:

"Not a great second practice due to a hydraulic problem with Michael’s car, which curtailed his running, but Rubens did the Bridgestone tyre comparison so we can look at all the data he has collated and make an informed final tyre choice tonight. We have two tyres with different characteristics so we shall weigh up the strategies we want to apply this weekend and decide which tyre to go with. This is a delicate track in terms of flat spotting tyres because there are quite a lot of areas where you are breaking on quite bumpy surfaces and if you lock up you can create flat spots - but we had no particular problems with that today."

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