BARCELONA TEST DAY TWO
THURSDAY 10 MARCH, 2011
Driver Rubens Barrichello
Chassis / engine FW33-01 / CA321
Location Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona 4.655km
Objectives Set-up work, mileage
Weather Sunny and dry
Ambient & track temps 18ºC / 27ºC

The second day of the AT&T Williams Barcelona test would see Rubens Barrichello take over from Pastor Maldonado. Rubens would take to the track after twenty minute and would set the first time a 1m:31.373. His next lap was a 1m:28.736 followed by a 1m:27.736. He would pit after a handful of laps while the session would be stopped with red flag. On his return to the track Rubens would improve with a 1m:26.051 followed by a 1m:26.018. This would see him now third but he would drop to fourth. Fastest was Webber with a 1m:24.036, from Alguersuari, and Perez.

Rubens would have the track to himself setting times in the 1m:26 and 1m:27s. Just before 10AM Rubens had complete twenty laps. Rubens would continue the short runs with times again in the 1m:26 and 1m:27s. Fastest at this point was Massa with a 1m:22.991. It would be on the fourth of these short runs that Rubens would set a 1m:24.919.

Just before 11am Rubens had completed forty two laps. Fastest was Webber from Massa, Perez, Petrov, Sutil, Alguersuari, and Rubens in seventh. Just after 11AM Perez would go fastest with a 1m:22.903. He would be passed by Massa but would retake the quicklest time with a 1m:22.042. While this was happening Rubens would also improve setting a time of 1m:23.439 to be fourth. This was after a longer ten lap run after which Rubens had pitted. Perez would again go faster with a 1m:21.761, from Massa and Webber. Rubens would return to the track and set a 1m:22.637 but would remain fourth. After the one run he was back in his pit, possibly indicating a qualifying simulation from the Williams driver.

Just before 12PM Rubens would cause a red flag when he would stop at Turn four. The problem with Rubens car was minor in nature and was easily fixed so Rubens would be back out after the lunch break. But lunch would pass and Rubens was still in his pit. Just before 2PM Rubens would head back out of the pit lane and would start a longer stint, pitting after fourteen laps. His best time was a 1m:29.427 but his average was in the high 1m:29s. By 2:30PM Rubens had completed eighty five laps. Rubens would remain in his pit for a time. He would return and by 3:30PM he had completed 100 laps.

But for the second time Rubens would bring out a red flag when his car as to stop at the end of the main straight. His car would be brought back to the pits on the usual truck with a cover over it. The cause of Rubens stop was a failure was on a rear suspension component that had a high level of mileage of it. Rubens would complete the day in fourth after having completed 105 laps.

Sam Michael, Technical Director: After completing some checks and mapping work with the new aero package, we went through a range of mechanical set-ups today. We’re seeing some quite positive signs and we’re heading in a good direction. We did have a failure on a very high mileage, rear suspension component late in the afternoon, so we're analysing the data on that now.

Rubens Barrichello: We had two aims today; to work on new tyre runs and to carry out some long runs. The new updates on the car seem to have made the car more consistent, and I was happy with our long run pace compared to last week. There’s still some work to be done to improve our performance on the first lap on new tyres.

AT&T Williams will be back on track tomorrow, Friday 11 February.

DRIVER      	 TEAM 		  	TIME       BEST / TOTAL
						   LAPS
1 S Perez 	 Sauber F1 Team 	1:21.761   47 / 95
2 F Massa 	 Ferrari 		1:22.092   51 / 132
3 M Webber 	 Red Bull Racing 	1:22.466   29 / 97
4 R Barrichello  AT&T Williams 		1:22.637   54 / 105
5 M Schumacher 	 Mercedes GP 		1:22.892   59 / 69
6 N Heidfeld 	 Lotus Renault GP 	1:23.541   31 / 32
7 H Kovalainen 	 Team Lotus 		1:23.990   17 / 40
8 V Petrov 	 Lotus Renault GP 	1:24.233   10 / 24
9 A Sutil 	 Force India F1 Team 	1:24.334   18 / 108
10 J Alguersuari Toro Rosso 		1:24.779   17 / 107
11 J D’Ambrosio  Marussia Virgin Racing 1:27.336   26 /96
12 J Trulli 	 Team Lotus 		1:34.485   5 / 6