Ferrari Completes USGP Domination As Expected
Written by George Katinger · July 2, 2006
The Podium of Schumacher and Massa was as expected, while the 3rd place finish of Giancarlo Fisichella was a pleasant surprise.
speedtv.com: USGP Another Walk for Michael Schumacher
grandprix.com: UNITED STATES GP - SUNDAY - RACE NOTES
sportinglife.com: REACTION: WILLIAMS, BMW, SUPER, McLAREN
Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher completed the trifecta; taking Pole, race win, and fastest race lap. While the crushing performance of Ferrari was surprising, the flawless execution by the team is what we have come to expect from Ferrari during their five year reign of terror, when they conquered all in sight. Does today’s win herald a return to that form?
Not hardly my friends, because today’s race was all about where the rubber meets the road. Schumacher, after exiting his car, ran over to the Bridgestone crew and dispensed hugs all around. He should have found Bibendum and the Michelin boys and gave them a big “Thank You” as well. The Michelin shod teams just could not keep up, and maybe the infamous flexing Ferrari rear wing gave the Maranello cars greater straight line speed. The Michelin tires may as well have been carved from stone, for all the grip they generated. One speed story stated that Michelin brought “competitve” tires as well as the rocks teams raced on; Michelin also strongly suggested they not be used. Besides all of the year long Mea Culpa’s Michelin has made, they gifted a race win to the enemy to insure a successful weekend for all. Can’t ask for more than that, can you?
One factor of speculation that proved false was the question of fuel loads. Schumacher completed at least 25 laps on his first stint, and Masa as well. The red cars went so deep I was wondering if they were also on a one stop strategy.
Regardless, this does not mark a turning point in the season. Expect Renault to return to their winning form, on competitive Michelin tires, at Magny Cours in two weeks time. With a new engine, some aero tweeks, and running in front of a home French crowd, Renault will be dominant once again.
As for the race itself, the first lap first turn carnage took away much of the excitement for me. Seven of the field were instantly terminated, among them the hopes for any competitive race; Raikkonen, Montoya, Webber, Heidfeld, and eventually, Button. The darling of the American fans, Scott Speed also was gone.
I had boldly predicted a third place finish for another Bridgestone driver, one Ralf Schumacher. Ralf fell foul of bearing gremlins and DNF’ed, but Jarno Trulli was within 7 seconds of claiming P3. He undoubtedly had the drive of the day, starting from pit lane and working up to 4th place on a one stop strategy. While Ralf seemed to loaf along at a moderate pace, how does Jarno manage to move to the front? A good shot in the arm for Toyota, hopefully it will translate into a turning point for the balance of their season.
And what of the contract negotiations for a renewal from Bernie for IMS for 2007 and beyond? Consider it a done deal. Speedtv caught El Supremo in pit lane prior to the race, who commented to the effect that the crowds were great, and he was looking for an American to fight with and was coming up empty. Derek “turd place” Daley observed he had two more hours and Bernie said he was sure he’d find someone to have a go with. With all the positives coming out of this weekend, and the State of Indiana offering a subsidy to TG, F1 GP racing no doubt will be back for at least five more years.
United Grand Prix Results - 2 July 2006 - 73 Laps
POS DRIVER NATIONALITY ENTRANT TIRE LAPS TIME/RETIRE
1. Michael Schumacher Germany Ferrari 73 1h34m35.199
2. Felipe Massa Brazil Ferrari 73 7.984
3. Giancarlo Fisichella Italy Renault 73 16.595
4. Jarno Trulli Italy Toyota 73 23.604
5. Fernando Alonso Spain Renault 73 28.410
6. Rubens Barrichello Brazil Honda 73 36.516
7. David Coulthard Britain Red Bull-Ferrari 72 1 Lap
8. Vitantonio Liuzzi Italy Toro Rosso-Cosworth 72 1 Lap
9. Nico Rosberg Germany Williams-Cosworth 72 1 Lap
R Ralf Schumacher Germany Toyota 62 Engine
R Christijan Albers Netherlands MF1-Toyota 37 Retired
R Jacques Villeneuve Canada Sauber-BMW 23 Engine
R Tiago Monteiro Portugal MF1-Toyota 9 Damage
R Takuma Sato Japan Super Aguri-Honda 6 Accident
R Jenson Button Britain Honda 3 Damage
R Kimi Raikkonen Finland McLaren-Mercedes 0 Accident
R Nick Heidfeld Germany Sauber-BMW 0 Accident
R Juan Pablo Montoya Colombia McLaren-Mercedes 0 Accident
R Mark Webber Australia Williams-Cosworth 0 Accident
R Scott Speed United States Toro Rosso-Cosworth 0 Accident
R Christian Klien Austria Red Bull-Ferrari 0 Accident
R Franck Montagny France Super Aguri-Honda 0 Accident
FASTEST LAP:
Michael Schumacher Germany Ferrari 56 1:12.719
Comments
12 Responses to “Ferrari Completes USGP Domination As Expected”
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Excellent summation of the race and the outlook for the future, George. You’ve hit it square on the mark, IMO.
Thanks.
Allan
I couldn’t agree more with your race summary. I too expect Renault to be back on top at Magny Cours.
MGR
I think your right that Michelin played a conservatine hand at Indy. With the return to Europe we will see Ferrari, or rather MS,back to running a close second to Alonso. How interesting that neither of their team mates are able to extract the best out of their equiptment across a season the way the two team leaders are able to.
Where would Trulli have ended up had he not started from the pit lane? WOW!
Trulli certainly had the drive of the day, but Luizzi did an outstanding job of trying to take the fight to D.C. and getting a point. If only they had put a taller gear in that car, he may have pulled off a pass on D.C. going into turn 1. Watching the onboard, the engine was on the rev limiter most of the way down the straight. I don’t think that they had accounted for the higher top speed using a draft.
And what the hell was Juan thinking?
The mystery of F1 this season has to be our man Juan. Has another driver burst upon F1 with higher expectations and less results than JPM?
As one of the last drivers from CART who had the potential to be a great driver in F1, his inability to step up to the elite level has been a total disappointment to me. Here’s hoping he’s aggragated enough income to sustain his retirement years out of the cockpit, as his driving future is looking dim .
I dont think scott speed is anyones darling. Trulli would have ended in exactly the same place because the ferraris just puttered around the track. MS fast lap was 2 seconds slower than his pole time. he was doing it like alain prost, just fast enough to win.
George, your assesment of JPM is right on. Juan has shown moments of brillance followed by hours of medocrity.
Maybe we will get lucky and he will some back over to Champ Car just in time for the re-merger, (cough, cough).
And as to M.S’s lap times. I am wondering if that is the reason that they were so elated in parc ferme. Me thinks that they had way more performance in hand and are hoping to carry that to Magny Cours and against Renault.
Shaping up to be an interesting season!
Having been at Indy all weekend, I have to say that the most exciting part of the was the support race of the Porsche Supercup. That, as always was great racing.
I watched qualifying and have to admit that the majority of the fans were of the opinion that MS was on a very light fuel load to get onto pole as Ferrari really was/is toted as “The Car” here in the States and that it was important (from a PR point) for them to be on pole. I almost got sick from seeing so much red. They looked very slippery w/ almost 2 seconds over the nearest competitor. Obviously, we were proven wrong. So Vincent, you might be right about them having a little something in reserve.
To see the “festivities” of the start was quite disappointing as once again, alot of us figured Kimi was on a one stopper since he qualified 9th. Too bad we never found out (thanx JPM). As a matter of fact, a bunch of fans left afterwards. It became such a snoozer of a race that I almost fell asleep (and not because I was there at 7:30, or the heat/humidity). It was just another runaway. Probably the most exciting part was the battles between DC and Liuzzi (and Rosberg in the beginning). Also, as we all saw our best buddy Bernie on the big screen, you could here all be boo’s and hisses (even thru the ear protection). He would’ve had a line just waiting to go a round w/ him.
Many global fans were there and they were great. Went out w/ a couple of them and had a great time. They love coming to America and hope this is not the last time. We exchanged numbers, etc. so we can hook up again next year. I think Bernie should really think hard about opening his greedy mouth again.
I’m new to this site, but not new to F1. The first F1 I saw was in 1967 at the Glen. I’ve seen many since. I felt I was burnt by last year’s Michelin fiasco at the Inianapolis F1. Not just for the extensive money spent either. It caused me to think that F1 is not very good racing anymore. This year seemed to underline that way of thinking.
It has now become an event when there is a pass in F1. Passing in the pits doesn’t count. It used to be that passing was one of the defining backbones of F1 racing. Gutsy drivers driving top notch cars, doing what they could to win. Not anymore. The rules have determined that passing in the pits is what the fans want to see. And the fact that a quick pit stop results in a position change is really exciting doesn’t prove that the pit pass is the only exciting moment in racing.
I just went to an ALS race at Lime Rock in Connecticut. There was more passing by accident there than any purposeful passing at any F1 I’ve seen in the last 20 years. Racing isn’t about pit crews making the deciding difference. It’s about racing. Real racing.
I’m afraid that todays F1 teams are mainly about the equipment, and not the race.
Give me hell, George.
Me give YOU hell? I make it a point never to argue with those who HAVE raced as opposed to guys like me who wish they HAD raced.
Your points are all spot on and fairly observed. It is all about the equipment, the skills required are driving on the limit within the capabilities of the car without offing the vehicle; passing not required, thank you very much.
The question I’d ask is how to put racing back in the race? Next year’s control tire should give Ferrari a huge edge based on their experience and incestuous relationship with Bridgestone. Scumi will hang on two more years on that alone, and I’ve predicted he’ll win his eighth crown based on that edge.
What about the standardized ECU’s Mad Max is foisting on the sport in ‘08? I’m actually hoping it will even things out a bit, but not for long.
My suggestion? Restrict the wing sizes so down force isn’t the end all be all for quick lap times, and lift the restriction on tire sizes, slicks of course. Maybe even rid the cars of traction control. Put racing back in the hands of the driver’s instead of solely in the hands of the engineers.
The sport’s changed some since you last wrenched your Mini, eh? Good hearing from you, reel me in any time I go over the edge!
Bill, I too agree with most that you have said, with one exception.
“The rules have determined that passing in the pits is what the fans want to see.”
Yes the current regulations create pasing in the pits, but I’m not sure that is what the fans want to see, not this fan at least. Welcome.
Oh now times haven’t changed all that much!!!
http://www.atspeedimages.com/limerock_2004/race_day/cindy_bauer_1967_austin_mini_cooper_s.jpg
I was at Lime Rock last weekend too Bill…we couldn’t met up! Doh.
As for putting racing back into racing…I’ve got a comment for you that will get me skewered…but whatever…say what you will about what the IRL has done to US open wheel racing (helped destroy it), the on-track action in the IRL can’t be beat right now