Zanardi's first Williams test

(30-Sep-98) - Alex Zanardi has completed his first day of testing with the
Williams team for whom he will drive next season.

The double CART champion set a fastest lap time of 1.24.742 around the
Barcelona circuit yesterday, the fifth fastest of the day ahead of the
Benetton of Alexander Wurz.

Zanardi's time was only two tenths of a second slower than regular Williams
test driver and newly crowned F3000 Champion, Juan-Pablo Montoya

"It is certainly different from the Formula 1 I left in 1994,"
said the Italian. "It is a completely different car from what I am
used to driving in the United States. It will take time for me to get used
to certain things like the semi-automatic gear-box, the left foot braking
and the grooved tyres but I have a good team behind me.

"Everybody was very nice to me today and they seem to be pretty
patient." Added the former Lotus driver.

The team reacted well to Zanardi's first run in a Formula 1 car since 1994.
Senior Operations engineer, James Robinson, said, "Alex is obviously
getting a feel for the car and also getting used to left foot braking which
he is finding quite sensitive. It is very encouraging to see him in good
mastery of the controls. We haven't had to tell him twice about the
functions on the car."

Zanardi will continue testing in Barcelona today.

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