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Title race narrows down to Schumi versus Raikkonen
Indianapolis, Sept 29: Michael Schumacher won the U.S. Grand Prix but rival Raikkonen`s second place ensures the title race goes to the final race.
Indianapolis, Sept 29: Michael Schumacher won the U.S. Grand Prix but rival Raikkonen's second place ensures the title race goes to the final race.
Ferrari's Michael Schumacher was left a point short of a record sixth Formula One championship on Sunday (September 28) after winning a wet and wild U.S. Grand Prix. The German, ever the rain master, steered clear of the controversy and chaos that blew away Colombian rival Juan Pablo Montoya's title hopes to claim the 70th victory of an extraordinary career. Schumacher now has 92 points and a nine-point lead over McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen with just the Japanese Grand Prix remaining. Williams' Montoya, a crowd favourite and many people's pre-race title tip, has 82 points after finishing sixth but cannot beat Schumacher now. The Colombian, winner of the Indy 500 at Indianapolis three years ago, was ruled out of the reckoning after picking up an early drive-through penalty and making a poor tyre choice that saw him being lapped.
Germany's Heinz-Harald Frentzen was third for Sauber, the team's first podium of the year, with Italian Jarno Trulli fourth for Renault.
Germany's Nick Heidfeld was fifth for Sauber, Montoya sixth, Italian Giancarlo Fisichella seventh for Jordan and Briton Justin Wilson picked up the final point for Jaguar.
Ferrari also regained the lead in the constructor's championship, with 147 points to Williams' 144. The result means Schumacher needs only to finish eighth at Suzuka, where he has won for the last three years, to claim his unprecedented title on October 12.
Raikkonen led from the start with Michael Schumacher and Montoya down the field. Then on the third lap Montoya's hopes were destroyed when he clashed with Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello, spinning the Brazilian into retirement. This later earned Montoya a ten second penalty.
Light rain then split the field as Bridgestone runners, including Michael Schumacher, lost grip while Michelin runners continued at their previous pace. During this time Montoya overtook Michael Schumacher and worked his way up to third place before a botched pit stop and the time penalty sent him dropping down the order.
Meanwhile heavy rain began and Michael Schumacher pitted to fit Bridgestone's intermediate tyre which coped well with the conditions while Michelin runners either slipped around on dry weather tyres or tried full wet tyres and risked the track drying.
Under these conditions it was the BAR driver Jenson Button who led with Heinz-Harald Frentzen in second place, but Michael Schumacher worked his way through the field steadily from sixth place into the lead.
Behind him, Raikkonen also worked his way up after pit stops from fourth to second place to keep his championship hope alive.
Result of Sunday's U.S. Formula One Grand Prix: Race distance: 73 laps, 306.016 km/190.139 miles) 1. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari one hour 33 minutes and 35.997 seconds (average speed 196.164 kph) 2. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) McLaren 1:33.54.255 behind 3. Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Germany) Sauber 1:34.13.961 4. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Renault 1:34.24.326 5. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) Sauber 1:34.32.400 6. Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) Williams one lap behind 7. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Jordan 1 lap 8. Justin Wilson (Britain) Jaguar 2 laps 9. Cristiano da Matta (Brazil) Toyota 2 laps 10. Jos Verstappen (Netherlands) Minardi 4 laps 11. Nicolas Kiesa (Denmark) Minardi 4 laps
Bureau Report
Ferrari's Michael Schumacher was left a point short of a record sixth Formula One championship on Sunday (September 28) after winning a wet and wild U.S. Grand Prix. The German, ever the rain master, steered clear of the controversy and chaos that blew away Colombian rival Juan Pablo Montoya's title hopes to claim the 70th victory of an extraordinary career. Schumacher now has 92 points and a nine-point lead over McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen with just the Japanese Grand Prix remaining. Williams' Montoya, a crowd favourite and many people's pre-race title tip, has 82 points after finishing sixth but cannot beat Schumacher now. The Colombian, winner of the Indy 500 at Indianapolis three years ago, was ruled out of the reckoning after picking up an early drive-through penalty and making a poor tyre choice that saw him being lapped.
Germany's Heinz-Harald Frentzen was third for Sauber, the team's first podium of the year, with Italian Jarno Trulli fourth for Renault.
Germany's Nick Heidfeld was fifth for Sauber, Montoya sixth, Italian Giancarlo Fisichella seventh for Jordan and Briton Justin Wilson picked up the final point for Jaguar.
Ferrari also regained the lead in the constructor's championship, with 147 points to Williams' 144. The result means Schumacher needs only to finish eighth at Suzuka, where he has won for the last three years, to claim his unprecedented title on October 12.
Raikkonen led from the start with Michael Schumacher and Montoya down the field. Then on the third lap Montoya's hopes were destroyed when he clashed with Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello, spinning the Brazilian into retirement. This later earned Montoya a ten second penalty.
Light rain then split the field as Bridgestone runners, including Michael Schumacher, lost grip while Michelin runners continued at their previous pace. During this time Montoya overtook Michael Schumacher and worked his way up to third place before a botched pit stop and the time penalty sent him dropping down the order.
Meanwhile heavy rain began and Michael Schumacher pitted to fit Bridgestone's intermediate tyre which coped well with the conditions while Michelin runners either slipped around on dry weather tyres or tried full wet tyres and risked the track drying.
Under these conditions it was the BAR driver Jenson Button who led with Heinz-Harald Frentzen in second place, but Michael Schumacher worked his way through the field steadily from sixth place into the lead.
Behind him, Raikkonen also worked his way up after pit stops from fourth to second place to keep his championship hope alive.
Result of Sunday's U.S. Formula One Grand Prix: Race distance: 73 laps, 306.016 km/190.139 miles) 1. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari one hour 33 minutes and 35.997 seconds (average speed 196.164 kph) 2. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) McLaren 1:33.54.255 behind 3. Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Germany) Sauber 1:34.13.961 4. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Renault 1:34.24.326 5. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) Sauber 1:34.32.400 6. Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) Williams one lap behind 7. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Jordan 1 lap 8. Justin Wilson (Britain) Jaguar 2 laps 9. Cristiano da Matta (Brazil) Toyota 2 laps 10. Jos Verstappen (Netherlands) Minardi 4 laps 11. Nicolas Kiesa (Denmark) Minardi 4 laps
Bureau Report