Takagi tests with Toyota.

Mika Salo continued Toyota's Monaco Grand Prix preparation in a joint test session at the team's regular test base at Circuit Paul Ricard, but a lot of attention was focused on the Finn's team-mate for the day.

As part of an evaluation programme designed to bring together the corporation's worldwide motorsport activities, Toyota flew in one of its regular CART racers - and former F1 man - Tora Takagi, to act as Salo's foil and give him a taste of modern grand prix equipment. The one-time Arrows and Tyrrell driver completed an impressive 106 laps during the test, to top the distance charts ahead of McLaren's David Coulthard.

"The last time I drove in F1 was two years' ago," Takagi confirmed, "For me, this was an exciting experience and it is incredible just how much an F1 technology has changed in that time. I want to say thanks to Toyota for giving me chance to drive today - it was good fun and very different to CART."

Salo completed 57 laps of the shorter 4.15km track layout, concentrating on tyre work for next week's Monaco Grand Prix. The Finn finished fifth overall, lapping almost two seconds quicker than his 'rookie' team-mate.

"We tested Michelin tyres today in preparation for next week's race. We have been on this shorter version of the track today, and some of the slow corners are similar to those in Monaco. It has been a productive day and testing with other teams, it is the first time we have tested at our home circuit with so much rubber down on the track."

Allan McNish take over from the Finn for the final day of testing tomorrow, and will be joined by another of Toyota's CART squad when Brazilian Cristiano da Matta is given the same experience as Takagi of driving the TF102.