The ING Race Index for theJapanese Grand Prix

Formula 1 on the holy mountainSayonara Suzuka: After a break of 30 years, the Japanese Grand Prix is now taking place again in Fuji. Neither drivers nor teams find the change inspiring. Although the circuit located in the foothills of Fujiyama, which has been extended and refurbished at a cost of €130m, may be ultramodern, they do not consider it to be anywhere near as demanding as that in Suzuka.The ING Race Index, which is to Formula 1 what the Dow Jones is to the stock exchange, uses continuously updated information to assess the key factors affecting the race circuits, thus allowing them to be compared. The Japanese Grand Prix ends up in 15th position.ING, with its wealth of statistics for Formula 1, has analysed all 17 race circuits from the following aspects:• Strain on drivers• Engineering requirements• Circuit• Vehicle setup• Tradition, fascination and emotion of the raceRanging from a low of 0 to a maximum of 100 points, the ING Race Index shows you at a glance the challenges that each course presents. Strain on drivers

For most of the drivers, Fuji is absolutely uncharted territory. During their preparation they have to rely on simulation programs, which have nevertheless now become so precise that drivers feel that they know the circuit well after only the first genuine lap. Key features of the track include the last corners before the long straights. Drivers who brake too sharply will lose time that they can no longer recoup. In the ING Race Index the course scores 69 points for driver strain and finishes in fifth position. Engineering requirements

The percentage raced at full throttle has been calculated as 55 and is thus well within the bottom range compared with the other circuits. Even the difference in elevation of 36 metres between the lowest and highest point of the track indicates no extreme load levels. As a result, the ING Race Index awards 46 points and position 16 for engineering requirements. Circuit

Fuji International Speedway still boasts one superlative feature: the circuit extended and refurbished by German architect Hermann Tilke has the longest straight in Formula 1, measuring 1.5 kilometres (0.93 miles). The first part of the course is very fast, the second narrow and slow. There are a number of good overtaking opportunities. Nevertheless, many say that the best feature of the track is the view it offers of Fujiyama. The ING Race Index awards 66 points, which means 10th place. Vehicle setup

Preparing the cars for the new circuit, which has to be done with practically no data or experience to go on, is a highly interesting task for the engineers. The long straight calls for the wings to be as flat as possible while some of the fast corners demand sufficient downforce. Despite highly developed simulation programs, it will not be simple to find the optimum setup in the short time available. The ING Race Index awards this complex equation 56 points and position 10.Tradition, fascination and emotion of the race

One point in favour of Fuji is its location in the foothills of picturesque Fujiyama. Up to now the Japanese Grand Prix has only been held on this circuit twice: in 1977 Mario Andretti won in a Lotus, and in 1977 James Hunt in a McLaren. Whether the Japanese fans will show as much enthusiasm in Fuji as in Suzuka remains to be seen. The ING Race Index honours the tradition and fascination of this race with 50 points and position 13.Moving the Japanese Grand Prix to Fuji is an experiment with an uncertain outcome. This can also be seen in the overall rating for the ING Race Index: 57 points bring 15th position among the 17 races in the 2007 season.