Motorsport: Mixed emotions for Dixon after F1 test

Bad weather and a driveline breakage on the last day left New Zealand's Scott Dixon with mixed emotions after a three-day test drive with the Williams-BMW Formula One team.

The Indy Racing League champion's hopes of posting a good time on the final day of testing at the Catalunya circuit near Barcelona were dashed when the Williams' driveshaft broke in turn eight of his opening lap in the afternoon.

"By the time the team got the car repaired, it was 5.45pm and it had started raining," his mother, Glenys Dixon, said yesterday.

"Scott said the team put on a full set of wets and he did eight laps, and that ended his testing."

Dixon, who was concentrating on set-ups for the forthcoming San Marino Grand Prix, completed 53 laps in the final morning.

His best time of 1m 16.621s put him ninth in the timesheets, just ahead of Williams driver Ralf Schumacher.

It had also rained the previous day when Dixon, concentrating on wet tyre testing, different engine maps and longer runs to investigate new components, had set the 10th fastest time.

On the first day, in good weather, Dixon had put in 97 laps and clocked the ninth best time of the day, 1m 15.932s, just slightly slower than veteran David Coulthard in a McLaren.

In comparison, the fastest time on the final day was 1m 15.079s set by Briton Jensen Button in a BAR-Honda.

"Scott said he looked pretty good on the last morning and had a better engine and more sets of tyres," Glenys Dixon said. "He was disappointed, though, with the last two days.

"He didn't feel he really accomplished much for himself. He wished the weather was better and he had a chance to put some good times together on the board.

"He felt he could have done better on the last day if not for the weather and the breakage.

"Scott said he was very happy with the team as they were very professional and it was great to be part of the test."

There had been no indication from the team about further testing, she said.

However, Dixon has an admirer in team boss Sir Frank Williams, who has said he believes Dixon has the potential to make an impact on Formula One.

The Williams team may well have two seats to fill next season, having lost Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya to McLaren and strong rumours surfacing that Ralf Schumacher is about to sign with Toyota - leaving Dixon a reasonable contender to secure one of them.

Dixon now heads to Japan to link up with his Target-Chip Ganassi team for the IRL race at the Motegi circuit this weekend.

- NZPA