Ferrari's Barrichello is quickest in F1 testing

VALENCIA, Spain January 29, 2003; Stuart Condie writing for Bloomberg reported that Rubens Barrichello, runner-up in last season's Formula One world championship, was quickest in preseason testing at Valencia, Spain.

Barrichello, who finished second to Ferrari teammate Michael Schumacher in 2002, clocked a best time of 1 minute, 11.429 seconds in 79 trips around 2.503-mile track.

Giancarlo Fisichella of the Jordan team was second quickest in 1:11.703, followed by Toyota's Olivier Panis and Jaguar's Mark Webber, as half a second separated the leading four drivers. Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer was eighth quickest, almost 1.5 seconds slower than Barrichello.

Schumacher, who won a record-tying fifth driving title last year, will join testing tomorrow, Ferrari said in an e-mailed statement. Ferrari is using the test to work on its and car electronics as it prepares to try for a fifth-straight team title.