Minardi PS04B
On the way to a world championship point: Zsolt Baumgartner Minardi PS04B at the U.S. Grand Prix in 2004.
Template: Infobox racing car / Maintenance / stop parameters
The Minardi PS04B was a Formula 1 racing car of the Italian team Minardi, which was used in the Formula 1 2004 season and in some races in the 2005 season. He is technically closely related with the Minardi PS03 of 2003; a relationship on the 2003 Minardi PS04 is proven, however, not in spite of the similarities in the nomenclature.
Background
Since 1985, dedicated in Formula 1 racing team Minardi was located since the mid- 1990s in a severe financial crisis. Not even the acquisition of the team had not changed through the Australian businessman Paul Stoddart 2001; Stoddart had not succeeded, the team financially equip so that it was able to independently develop competitive racing cars.
Looking for cost-effective improvements Stoddart acquired in early summer 2003, five vehicles of the Arrows A23, which had previously been used in some Formula 1 World Championship races in the British Arrows team. The A23- vehicles were designated Minardi PS04. Stoddart considered initially to bring the Arrows A23 under the Minardi name in the 2004 season at the start. A series of tests showed, however, that the Arrows vehicles under the changed conditions of the new regulations were not much more powerful than the old Minardi constructions. The team then gave the PS04 project. Instead, a separate car for the 2004 season was developed, which was designated PS04B and had nothing to do with the Arrows A23.
Technique of Minardi PS04B
The Minardi PS04B was - like its predecessors, PS02 and PS03 - an evolution of the Minardi PS01, Gustav Brunner was constructed in the winter of 2000/2001 under difficult economic conditions. Responsible designer of PS04B was Gabriele Tredozi. The PS04B used to be the monocoque of the PS01 and different from their immediate predecessors, primarily by revised aerodynamics. The last use of the PS04B in Bahrain one of the two drivers had now completed 54 racing and was thus the most widely used chassis of Formula 1 history. The powerplant was used to going back to the year 2001, ten-cylinder engine of the type Cosworth CR3 -L, which was prepared at Minardi in their own work.
At the start of the 2005 season the PS04B learned some aerodynamic modifications that were due to a change of the regulations. The implementation of these modifications had previously been the subject of a civil court litigation.
Racing applications
The Minardi PS04B was considered the weakest vehicle in the years 2004 and 2005. The team played with it the entire Formula 1 season 2004 and the first three races of the 2005 season. Gianmaria Bruni and Zsolt drivers were Baumgartner (2004 ) and Patrick Friesacher and Albers ( 2005). In 21 races, the team achieved with the PS04B a world championship point by Baumgartner, the eighth in the U.S. Grand Prix 2004.
With the beginning of the so-called European season of PS04B by the Minardi PS05 was replaced, which was a completely new design.