Minardi M02

Minardi M02
	Gastón Mazzacane in the M02
Category	Formula One
Constructor	Minardi
Designer(s)	Gustav Brunner (Technical Director); Gabriele Tredozi (Chief Engineer); George Ryton (Chief Designer); (Chief Aerodynamicist)
Predecessor	M01
Successor	PS01
Technical specifications
Chassis	Monocoque body in carbon-fibre and aluminium honeycomb composite
Suspension (front)	In carbon push-rod with torsion bars; steel wishbones; F/S shock absorbers
Suspension (rear)	As front
Length	4,420 mm (174 in)
Width	1,800 mm (71 in)
Height	950 mm (37 in)
Axle track	Front: 1,452 mm (57 in); Rear: 1,420.7 mm (56 in)
Wheelbase	3,050 mm (120 in)
Engine	1998-spec Ford Zetec-R (badged as Fondmetal) 3.0 L (183 cu in) V10 (72°) naturally-aspirated mid-mounted
Transmission	Minardi titanium 6-speed longitudinal semi-automatic sequential
Power	770 hp @ 15,800 rpm
Weight	600 kg (1,323 lb)
Fuel	Elf
Lubricants	Elf
Brakes	Brembo 6-piston calipers, carbon discs and pads
Tyres	Bridgestone Potenza
Competition history
Notable entrants	Telefónica Minardi Fondmetal
Notable drivers	20. Marc Gené; 21. Gastón Mazzacane
Debut	2000 Australian Grand Prix
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0

The Minardi M02 was the car with which the Minardi Formula One team competed in the 2000 Formula One season. It was driven by the young Spaniard Marc Gené, in his second year with the team, and the Argentine rookie pay-driver Gastón Mazzacane.^[2] As ever, the car was a neat and tidy design, but hampered by a lack of power and testing mileage. The new fluorescent yellow colour scheme turned heads, but did little to improve the team's fortunes, as they eventually finished a de facto tenth in the Constructors' Championship, with no points but ahead of Prost due to a better finishing record.^[3] The team therefore qualified for some of the sport's television revenues in 2001.

At the end of the year, Telefonica pulled out of sponsoring the team, making it the last Formula One car until the 2004 Renault R24 to be sponsored by the Spanish telecommunications company,^[4] while Fondmetal boss Gabriele Rumi was forced to sell the team due to ill health, leaving team founder Giancarlo Minardi with the task of finding the budget for 2001. The team was eventually bought by the Australian aviation entrepreneur, Paul Stoddart.^[5]

In 2014 British F1 engineering company TDF rebuilt chassis 1 and 2 for demonstration use. Chassis 2 was displayed and ran at speed on circuit at Zandvoort 'Festival Italia' driven by Jan Lammers. This was the first time an M02 chassis had run in public since 2001.

Complete Formula One results[]

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year	Team	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	Points	WCC
2000	Minardi	Fondmetal RV10 V10*	B		AUS	BRA	SMR	GBR	ESP	EUR	MON	CAN	FRA	AUT	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	USA	JPN	MAL	0	NC
				Marc Gené	8	Ret	Ret	14	14	Ret	Ret	16^†	15	8	Ret	15	14	9	12	Ret	Ret
				Gastón Mazzacane	Ret	10	13	15	15	8	Ret	12	Ret	12	11	Ret	17	10	Ret	15	13^†