Historic 1-2 for Ferrari at US Grand Prix

[Yeo]

Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa scored an historic and resounding one-two for Ferrari at the United States at Indianapolis on Sunday. Starting from the front row of the grid, they were scarcely headed throughout the 73 lap, and received a fantastic reception from the packed grandstands. It brought Michael's tally of victories to five at the Brickyard, a first time achievement for any racing driver. Significantly, it meant that only Bridgestone has ever won the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis.


The temperature was around 38 degrees as the race got under way, but Michael was beaten off the line by teammate Massa as they went down into the first corner where he was also challenged by Renault's Fernando Alonso. Fisichella grabbed fourth place from Rubens Barrichello. But there was chaos in midfield and at the back, as two separate accidents claimed eight cars, including both McLarens, local hero Scott Speed, Nick Heidfeld who was unhurt after rolling, and Jenson Button.


As the safety car came out, Massa led from Michael, then Alonso, Fisichella, Barrichello, followed by Jacques Villeneuve, Ralf Schumacher, and Nico Rosberg from the back of the grid.


When the safety car went in, Michael Schumacher stuck to the back of his teammate, while the Renaults gradually dropped away. Barrichello and Ralf were close behind and were soon joined by Villeneuve while Rosberg, with a heavy fuel load, dropped away and was soon overtaken by Trulli, who was much happier with his heavy fuel load.


By lap 15, Michael Schumacher was beginning to drop back behind Massa. Fisichella's pressure on teammate Alonso told when the Spaniard was a little slow out of the final corner and Fisichella was easily able to overtake down the straight, moving into third place, but over seven seconds behind the second Ferrari.


Alonso was soon caught by Barrichello who brought Ralf and Villeneuve with him, the quartet being caught by Trulli who had left Rosberg far behind. The Williams driver had the battling David Coulthard and Tonio Liuzzi close behind. Albers completed those still running.


Barrichello was the first to pit on lap 24, at just the same time as Villeneuve retired with engine failure from seventh place. The pit stops began in earnest five laps later, when Michael pitted first from second place on lap 29 and put on new tyres. Fisichella pitted at the same time.


Massa pitted a lap later, and the combination of used tyres and a slipping clutch meant he emerged just behind Michael, who took the lead when Alonso pitted on lap 31. Michael now led by 2.4s from Massa in second. The yet-to-stop Trulli was in third place, while Fisichella was fourth from Alonso. Ralf Schumacher had overtaken Barrichello in the pit stops.


It was just after half distance that Trulli pitted, rejoining behind Barrichello in seventh, but all of those ahead would be making a second stop. Liuzzi also pitted, leaving Coulthard to concentrate on catching eighth placed Rosberg. The Williams driver made his only stop on lap 43, and Coulthard finally stopped on lap 47, now ahead of Rosberg.


The two-stoppers began making their second stops around lap 49, Barrichello pitting first, while Massa pitted on lap 52, Fisichella and Ralf on lap 53, Michael on lap 54 and Alonso on lap 55.


The most significant point about the order was that Alonso was now in sixth place, behind the two Toyotas, both Ferraris and Fisichella. But as Ralf was being caught by teammate Trulli, the German driver suffered a wheel bearing failure, which caused him to retire with just ten laps to go.


Michael's lead came down from 14s to 8s in the closing stages but he won easily from Massa in second place. Fisichella was third from Trulli scoring points again. Alonso salvaged fifth with Barrichello sixth. Coulthard was seventh while Liuzzi's eighth place meant Scuderia Toro Rosso scored their first World Championship point. Rosberg was the only other finisher.


Michael's victory means that Alonso lead in the championship is now 18 points, while Ferrari have reduced Renault's lead by eight points to 26 points.





http://www.fast-autos.net/motorsports/104/
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[MG Man]

great report, Yeo
Who else felt Massa should have won?
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I know it's so, for I told me so