SPAIN: An upbeat mood prevailed in the Force India Formula One team after their first testing of the eagerly awaited new VJM02 engine-driven car here with principal driver Griancarlo Fisichella feeling positive for a better show with his "completely-changed" machine this season. "I am quite surprised and happy about what I felt with the behavior of the car.
It's very promising and I felt much more consistency, even under breaking, and more stability in the high-speed corners," Fisichella said. A fuel system problem, however, limited his first feel of the car to 31 laps only out of which he clocked the best lap time of 1 min 21.584, best sixth time out of eight teams tested yesterday.
The Italian finished sixth in order in the eight-team race under overcast conditions which also saw frequent red flags to finish at the 4.428 km long Jerez de La Frontane circuit. Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel came first 1 min 19.055 best lap time besides running the maximum laps of 87.
Ferrari's Felipe Massa was second with best lap time of 1:20.330 while Toyota test driver Kumui Kobayashi was third fastest 1:20.699. PTI.