Jordan's test goes up in smoke

FORMULA 1: Jordan's first day of Formula One testing for the new season went up in smoke yesterday after Giancarlo Fisichella…

FORMULA 1: Jordan's first day of Formula One testing for the new season went up in smoke yesterday after Giancarlo Fisichella's engine caught fire.

The team said in a statement that a minor fuel leak caused an engine bay fire on the Italian's EJ13 after he had completed a few installation laps at the Circuit de Catalunya.

They spent several hours repairing the Ford-powered car before a gearbox problem cut short the day's testing after more installation laps.

"The track was wet this morning and we lost most of the day repairing damage from the fire," said engineering head Gary Anderson.

READ MORE

"Giancarlo completed about 15 laps although no timed laps in the dry. Some of these things shouldn't happen, but testing is like that and you just have to accept it."

Apart from a systems shakedown at Silverstone last week, Jordan have not tested since the final race of the 2002 season in Japan. The team have yet to formally launch the car or announce their title sponsor and second driver for the year.

Jaguar Racing have appointed Briton Ian Pocock as director of engineering at the Ford-owned Formula One team. The team said in a statement that Pocock (44) would join next month.