Polesitter MICHAEL SCHUMACHER won his fourth consecutive United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, making it his fifth and a record-breaking victory for any driver at The Brickyard. The weather was hot-95 degrees F-and humid, and the racing was fast and furious.
Schumacher's margin of victory over team-mate, FELIPE MASSA, was 7.9 seconds. And it gave bragging rights to
Bridgestone tyres, finishing first and second. But Michelin tyres had five of the nine finishers.
Renault's GIANCARLO FISICHELLA finished third, with his world champion team-mate, FERNANDO ALONSO, finishing fifth. The boys in blue made a sandwich of JARNO TRULLI, who finished fourth. Before the race, Renault team boss, FLAVIO BRIATORE, had not been very optimistic about beating the dominant Ferraris and his prediction was self-fulfilling.
All but one of the finishers earned a point. Sixth through ninth were RUBENS BARRICHELLO, DAVID COULTHARD, VITANTONIO LIUZZI, and birthday boy NICO ROSBERG, who is now legally an adult - at least in the US.
A turn one incident on the first lap took out seven cars, and the
FIA F1 stewards announced soon after that they will investigate the accident. No drivers were hurt, but it will make spectacular footage for the inevitable and endless highlights.
Those retiring on the spot were CHRISTIAN KLIEN; SCOTT SPEED; MARK WEBBER; JUAN PABLO MONTOYA; NICK HEIDFELD and KIMI RAIKKONEN. Heidfeld did an incredible barrel roll but walked back to the pits. Initial comments from the drivers didn't lay any blame, but most indicated that JPM had hit Raikkonen, who had slowed for someone in front of him.
American Speed, who had high hopes of finishing into the points on his home turf, probably felt the worst after the dust had settled. He said it was disappointing, but he had no place to go, and he was one of those saying it probably just a racing incident.
