 Rain Shortens Monza Testing - Day Three Thursday August 31st, 2000 Pouring rain put an early end to today's testing session at the Monza circuit, where all Formula One teams are preparing for the Italian Grand Prix next week. Just as it happened during yesterday's session, rain began to fall in the afternoon, though it did not stop on this occasion and the teams decided to call it a day. Jacques Villeneuve set the fastest time of the day for the BAR team, in front of McLaren driver David Coulthard and Jordan's Heinz-Harald Frentzen, with reigning World Champion Mika Hakkinen in fifth. It was another disappointing day for home favourite Michael Schumacher who, in front of a very big crowd, was only sixth in the Ferrari. The Italian team was visited by Luca di Montezemolo, who was celebrating his 53rd birthday today. The Ferrari President was also joined by the team’s Sporting Director Jean Todt. The morning session saw yet another accident at the Ascari chicane, and while Benetton’s Giancarlo Fisichella suffered a big crash on Wednesday, today it was Minardi's Gaston Mazzacane turn. The Argentine driver went off the track at a very high speed and ended up hitting the tyre barrier, but fortunately he escaped uninjured. As teams were unable to continue their work during the afternoon, the McLaren crew decided to entertain the crowd, encouraging the tifosi to clap and do "the wave". But the show got out of hand and some members of the British team started doing disrespectful gestures towards the Ferrari pit, until a McLaren member decided to put an end to it. Friday will be the last day of the four day test at Monza. Today's times:
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