The Minardi F1 Team successfully
completed its two-day test at Misano's Autodromo Santamonica this
afternoon, Gianmaria Bruni taking over from Zsolt Baumgartner, who drove
yesterday.  The young Italian put another 64 laps on the Minardi-Cosworth
PS04B chassis during Wednesday's morning and afternoon sessions, making
a total of 128 trouble-free laps for the new car over the two days.
Bruni recorded an excellent fastest lap of 1 min 09.627 secs, while
carrying out a tyre assessment programme.

The team's engineers were
again very pleased with the excellent reliability of Cosworth's CR3L
engine, which has made a significant contribution to the success of this
initial test of the PS04B.  Minardi personnel will be at Imola on
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week, for the final pre-season
test of the new car.

Gianmaria Bruni:

"I think we have had a positive test.  The new chassis is very good, and
I'm happy with the small innovations the team is making with the Minardi
PS04B.  We were able to concentrate on carrying out some useful tyre
comparisons as part of today's programme, and I feel happy with the time
I set.  I'm looking forward to Imola now."

Massimo Rivola, Team manager:

"A combination of good weather and excellent mechanical reliability
allowed us to complete our technical programme successfully with Gimmi
today.  The team continued with its development of a number of new
mechanical components, and in the afternoon, we also carried out some
tyre evaluation runs, working with technical staff from Bridgestone.
Gimmi's best time was very respectable, so overall, we feel confident
that we are going in the right direction with the new chassis, and making
steady, consistent progress."

Paul Stoddart, Team Principal:

"It's always a pleasure to see a new car running for the first time,
but it is particularly pleasing to have enjoyed two trouble-free days
with the PS04B, and covered almost two race distances in the process.
Reliability is something that all F1 teams will be striving for in 2004,
so the indications from this test are very positive."

"Gimmi drove
faultlessly today - as Zsolt did yesterday - and his time was very
encouraging!  With our final pre-season test of the PS04B next week at
Imola, where there will be a number of other teams in attendance, we hope
to continue with the progress we feel we have made so far.  We will then
look forward with great anticipation to Melbourne."

Gianmaria Bruni
Chassis allocation: PS04B/01
Laps completed: 64/259.8 kms
Fastest lap: 1 min 09.627 secs

-minardi-


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