UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > Race: Michael's hollow victory

Schumacher wins US GP

Michael Schumacher claimed his first victory of the 2005 season when he collected the chequer at the United States Grand Prix on Sunday.

The seven times world champion triumphed over his Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello in what will go down as one of the most controversial races in history.

20 cars headed onto the grid but only six started the race as all seven Michelin-shod teams retired at the end of the end of the formation lap.

The reason was safety concerns over the available rubber and despite the many efforts a solution to the problem couldn’t be found.

That story aside, Ferrari, Jordan and Minardi lined up to contest the race at the Indianapolis Speedway and despite the small field it wasn’t without drama.

Schumacher tore off the grid and into the first corner in the lead, Barrichello was second followed by Tiago Monteiro (Jordan), Chrisitjan Albers (Minardi), Narain Karthikeyan (Jordan) and Patrick Friesacher (Minardi).

It seemed that the Scuderia would just cruise to the finish with Schumacher leading his team-mate at some two seconds per lap off the predicted race pace.

However, all that quickly changed after the first round of pit stops when the competitive German found himself in second position.

Bridgestone too had rubber concerns and thorough inspection of the left-rear tyre on the number one Ferrari which cost Schumacher 17 seconds.

He returned to the action seven seconds down on Barrichello and quickly set the Speedway alight as he went about making up the deficit.

The Brazilian responded and it was clear that neither team-mate was going to go down without a fight.

The gap had narrowed to just over two seconds as the second and final round of pit stops took place.

Schumacher had two extra laps of fuel and he used them wisely putting in two blistering laps to exit the pit lane side-by-side with Barrichello.

Neither man yielded and a feisty Schumacher claimed the apex forcing Barrichello to take evasive action and head for the grass.

If the tyre controversy wasn’t enough the instruction soon came from Ferrari to hold position.

As is usual policy the drivers are to end the race at the conclusion of the final round of pit stops to preserve the team’s position.

Under the circumstances it was expected that the pair would duel until the finish line, Ferrari though thought otherwise and went for the safe option.
So it was that Schumacher headed home the victory with Barrichello second.

The positions didn’t change behind the leaders and Monteiro powered his Jordan home to his first podium finish in only his ninth race.

The Portugese ace was clearly pleased as he jumped from the EJ15, the Ferrari team-mates, on the other hand, were evasive and wouldn’t look each other in the eye after their earlier altercation.

Podium ceremonies went ahead but the sound of the German and Italian anthems did little to drown out the heckling and booing of an understandably disgruntled Indianapolis crowd.

Monteiro made the most of the podium moment and sprayed some champagne, but the Ferrari drivers elected not to join in after their experiences at Indy and the A1-Ring in 2002.

In the press conference all were dejected and Schumacher said it was a disappointing way to collect his first victory of the season.

Whatever the circumstances, the result has launched both Schumacher and Ferrari into the championship fight.

The Scuderia are now equal second in the constructors’ standings on 63 points, 13 behind Renault.

Schumacher has moved to outright third in the drivers’ standings, 25 behind Fernando Alonso.

As the circus moves to Magny-Cours for the French Grand Prix, Michelin teams face further disadvantage through early qualifying positions.

However before that race is run there is surely more fall-out from the United States to come.

Written: Sun, 19 Jun 2005 19:57:41