Toyota: Monza test OK for us.

Toyota chief test engineer, Gerd Pfeiffer has said that the Cologne-based squad enjoyed a 'generally' successful test this week at Monza.

Toyota began their three-day programme on Tuesday, with test drivers, Ricardo Zonta and Olivier Panis kicking off proceedings, before race drivers, Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli took over for the second and third days. The focus was the upcoming North American races in Montreal and Indianapolis. Montreal is very tough on brakes and also relatively low downforce, making Monza a representative test venue although the team will return to the Milanese track in August to conduct its main Italian GP set-up work.

"For Montreal it is important to have good stability under heavy braking, as well as good traction, so we have been doing brake work as well as some suspension experimentation with different cambers and so forth," explained Pfeiffer after the test concluded on Thursday. "Generally it has been successful but we did lose a bit of time on Ralf's car with an engine misfire that took some time to locate. This was a newly built-up car and at the end of the day we solved the problem and made progress. There has also been a full tyre programme concentrating on both Montreal and Indianapolis."

Ralf, who completed over 700 kilometres over his two day programme, largely echoed those thoughts.

"We lost a bit of time with an engine electronic problem and had a lot to get through. As well as the tyre and suspension programme, I was also planning to try some different rear wing arrangements before we head across the Atlantic for two races on consecutive weekends in Montreal and Indianapolis but we will have to leave that for a later test. The bulk of the set-up work was successful and we hope to have strong races in North America," he added.