The BMW WilliamsF1 Team head straight to Indianapolis this week for the United States Grand Prix and the second race of a double header hosted on North American soil. One of the highlights on the Formula One calendar, the race at the famous Brickyard circuit marks the ninth round of the FIA Formula One World Championship and the half way point of the 2004 season.
Despite the disappointment of disqualification from last weekend's Canadian Grand Prix, both Ralf and Juan Pablo drove competitive races, highlighting an encouraging improvement in the performance of the FW26. Having missed out on valuable points in Canada, the team will redouble its efforts for a competitive outcome in the United States.
Juan Pablo Montoya:Going back to race in the USA is always a great feeling, especially going back to the Brickyard. To see all those people in the grandstands is a huge boost for me as it reminds me of my CART days and of my Indy 500 victory in 2000. I also have bittersweet memories here. At last year's US Grand Prix, I lost any opportunity I had of winning the Drivers' Championship. That is how it goes in racing, though, so I've put that disappointment firmly behind me.
Indianapolis is another fast circuit, probably slightly faster than Montreal, but the infield section is very slow and finding the right set-up for the car will be crucial. For several reasons, we haven't had a good season so far, but I really hope we can start turning things around at the Speedway.
I'll get to see some good friends again while I'm in Indy and I am sure there will be several Colombian flags around too. I consider this race to be a home race for me since I lived in the US for a while and, whenever I have some days off, I enjoy spending time in Miami where my family lives.
Ralf Schumacher:After Canada, I will spend a few days relaxing in the United States before the action starts again on Thursday in Indianapolis. Somehow I have a feeling Indianapolis does not really like me as my last two races there have been somewhat frustrating. In 2002, I had a collision with my team mate and, in 2003, I spun off in the wet while running in second position.
Despite past performances, Indianapolis is the home of motor racing in the States and without doubt a special place. I like the circuit as it has a good rhythm and good overtaking opportunities on the long straight, the corner entering the oval section is also a particularly good place to attack. Technically, the circuit is really challenging. Power is crucial, especially for the long straight, while you also need a lot of downforce for the corners of the infield section. Finding the perfect set-up is often really difficult as you need to find the best compromise to handle the track's varying characteristics. I think we will be well prepared, though, so I'm hoping for a more successful result than I've had in previous years.
Sam Michael (Technical Director, WilliamsF1):This weekend we'll be in Indianapolis for the second race of the North American double header. Like Montreal, the Speedway is a low downforce circuit, but, on the other hand, it is quite different because of the banked oval. The track therefore places different demands on the tyres and the brakes, so a totally different set-up to Canada is required in order to optimise performance.
Michelin has brought two new tyres to the US Grand Prix, which we have tested with encouraging results, so I am sure they will work well at Indy. We have also made some mechanical improvements to the car which we will be running. Race strategy will be interesting, and probably similar to how it has been this season so far, so we should see teams doing either two or three stops.
Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director):We are very much looking forward to the race in the United States as America is BMW's biggest market. Indianapolis is the heart of motor racing in North America so it's great that it's hosted the race since 2000.
Indianapolis is the only circuit on the calendar where the cars are driven at full throttle for long periods of time. The oval section is 1,780 metres long and the cars are driven at full throttle for more than 20 seconds. They are then quickly shifted up into seventh gear and stay there for about ten seconds. As a reference, the second longest straight on the Formula One calendar is at Monza, where the drivers cover 1,236 metres in 14 seconds at full throttle and will only be in top gear for about half of that time.
On Indy's long straight, the BMW P84 engine will be under extreme thermal and mechanical pressures. Nevertheless, we will still run the same revs and power we have available in qualifying for the duration of the race. What the top speed on the straight will be will of course depend on the aero set-up and on how much wing we need to add to the cars for the infield corners.
Stats and facts- Indianapolis is the capital of the US state of Indiana and has a population of 860,454. Established in 1821, Indianapolis is the twelfth largest city in the USA.
- The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was built in 1909 as a two and half mile oval circuit. Its original brick paving gave rise to the nickname "The Brickyard" which has survived to this day. The famous Indy 500 race was first staged at The Brickyard in 1911.
- While the Indy 500 runs in an anti-clockwise direction, Formula One events are run clockwise and use only part of the oval. In 2000, a narrow, twisty infield section was added to the original circuit specifically for Formula One events. The track comprises 13 turns, comprising four left-handed and nine right-handed corners.
- Indianapolis' Formula One track measures 4.192 km. The 73 lap race covers a total distance of 306.016 km.
- In 2004, Indianapolis will host its fifth successive United States Grand Prix. Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) won the debut race in 2000, while Mika Hakkinen won for McLaren-Mercedes in 2001. Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello won in 2002 while Michael Schumacher claimed his second US victory last year.
- The first United States Grand Prix was held at Sebring and was won by Bruce McLaren in a Cooper Climax. Formula One moved to Riverside for the 1960 Grand Prix, and then on to Watkins Glen the following year where a total of 20 World Championship races have been held. Between 1976 and 1983, Formula One made eight appearances at Long Beach for the USA West Grand Prix. The 1980s also saw two Grands Prix held in Las Vegas, one in Dallas and seven in Detroit. From 1989 to 1991, Phoenix hosted the United States Grand Prix. To date, the United States has hosted 47 Formula One Grands Prix.
- WilliamsF1 has won five times on American soil. Alan Jones claimed the team's first US win in 1980 at Watkins Glen while in 1981 the Australian secured both US victories in Las Vegas and at Long Beach. Keke Rosberg won the 1984 US Grand Prix, hosted in Dallas, as well as taking the 1985 win in Detroit.
- In 1984, Nelson Piquet claimed victory in Detroit in a BMW-powered Brabham.
- In the 2003 United States Grand Prix, Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher qualified in fourth and fifth places respectively. However, intermittent rain compromised both of the BMW WilliamsF1 Team's drivers' races. Montoya finished the race in sixth position following a collision with Barrichello and a subsequent stop-go penalty. His team-mate, Ralf, also suffered as a result of the rain, and was forced to retire on lap 22 from second place when he spun off a wet track while running on slick tyres.
- The Indianapolis circuit holds particular significance for Juan Pablo Montoya. In 2000, the Colombian made motor sport history when he won the legendary Indy 500 in his debut race, a feat no one has achieved since Graham Hill's debut victory in 1966.
- The current Formula One lap record, set in 2003, stands at 1:11.473m and was recorded by last year's winner, Michael Schumacher. Kimi Raikkonen claimed pole position with a 1:11.670m in the McLaren-Mercedes.
- The 2004 United States Grand Prix starts at 12.00hrs, local time, on Sunday 20th June.
