 Teams Get Ready for USA Grand Prix Tuesday September 12th, 2000 Seven out of the eleven Formula One teams began on Tuesday their preparations for the United States Grand Prix, testing at three different circuits. Ferrari, McLaren and Sauber were at Mugello, Italy, where Olivier Panis - McLaren's test driver - set the fastest time of the day, 1:25.972, ahead of Pedro Diniz with the Sauber (1:27.654). Luca Badoer, Ferrari's test driver, was third fastest (1:28.137), concentrating on aerodynamic and suspension settings. The other driver at Mugello was Kimi Raikkonen, British Formula Renault Champion. The 20 year-old Finn set the slowest time of the day at the wheel of the second Sauber (1:30.008). Meanwhile, at the Portuguese Estoril circuit, Williams and Benetton also began working only two days after the Italian Grand Prix. . Ralf Schumacher was fastest with the Williams, testing "several new development parts that require testing" for his car, completing 86 laps with a best time of 1:21.524. Benetton driver Giancarlo Fisichella was second fastest (1:21.716), ahead of the team's test driver, Australian Mark Webber, who set a lap of 1:22.351. Finally, Jaguar and BAR tested at Silverstone, where Luciano Burti topped the time sheets with a best lap of 1:25.2. BAR drivers Jacques Villeneuve (1:25.5) and Ricardo Zonta (1:25.6) were second and third fastest, the Brazilian driving a new test chassis. Testing will continue tomorrow at the three circuits.
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