United States Grand Prix (Michael Schumacher wins!)

Ed · Post by Ed » Wed Jun 15, 2005 7:30 pm

This is the place to discuss everything related to the ninth round of the 2005 season taking place at Indianapolis in the USA between the 17th and 19th of June.

The United States Grand Prix Preview is now available here.
The main United States Grand Prix Main Page is available here.

Note: The race starts at 1 PM local time.

To submit your 8 'n' Pole Picks for the USA click here, to register in the competition click here (it is never too late to enter as the winner of each round wins a prize in addition to the overall prizes)

The Team preview page is now available here
Friday Team and Driver Quotes now available here
Saturday Team and Driver Quotes now available here
Sunday Team and Driver Quotes now available here

The FIA post race press conference is also available

FIA Press Conferences
Thursday - With Fernando Alonso, Juan Pablo Montoya, Michael Schumacher and Scott Speed
Friday - With Ron Dennis, Nick Fry, Peter Sauber, Frank Williams
Saturday - With Jarno Trulli, Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button
Sunday - With Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello and Taigo Monteiro

Ed · Post by Ed » Wed Jun 15, 2005 7:35 pm

The event timetable for the United States Grand Prix

Friday
1st Friday Practice 11:00 local time - 16:00 GMT
2nd Friday Practice 14:00 local time - 19:00 GMT

Saturday
1st Saturday Practice 09:00 local time - 14:00 GMT
2nd Saturday Practice 10:15 local time - 15:15 GMT
Qualifying 13:00 local time - 18:00 GMT

Sunday
Race 13:00 local time - 18:00 GMT

Ed · Post by Ed » Wed Jun 15, 2005 7:37 pm

The latest weather forecast for the United States Grand Prix (last updated 17 June)

Friday
1st Practice - 11:00 - 22 - Sunny
2nd Practice - 14:00 - 23 - Partly Cloudy

Saturday
1st Practice - 09:00 - 18 - Mostly Sunny
2nd Practice - 10:15 - 19 - Mostly Sunny
Qualifying - 13:00 - 23 - Partly Cloudy

Sunday - 26 - Sunny
Race - 13:00

Kapel · Post by **Kapel** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 9:03 pm

I dont believe the weather forecast anymore,especially when they indicate showers.

It just gives me hope for Narain & he never finishes those races

Graham Ross · Post by **Graham Ross** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 4:38 pm

I think we'll have another surprise result but I think that McLaren will be the team to beat and Raikkonen is the favourite. All his rivals will qualify early so they will either be very light or end up in the middle at the start.

I don't think either Renault or Montoya will be light, they will be as heavy as the rest but given their speed they'll pass on the straight and stay in touch with Kimi and they could catch him when the safety car is deployed. (You've got to have a safety car at Indy!!)

BAR will be strong too then Toyota and Ferrari then Williams and Sauber (Massa

)

So (and I haven't put in my picks yet) I reckon it will be: McLaren 1-2, Renault 3-4, BAR 5-6, Rubens and Trulli 7-8

Of course half of those will retire (it is Indy remember) but I don't know who

That will allow Michael to finish 4th, Webber 5th, Massa 6th, Heidfeld 7th and Ralf in 8th

Of course half of those may not finish either then Karthikeyan or Albers may finish in the points.

Why not Red Bull, I think the Cosworth engine still needs some work, sorry DC fans

Kapel · Post by **Kapel** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 4:50 pm

Yes Graham,i also agree that Indy will give us an unexpected winner,could be Webber or Jenson Button

Webber has a chance to qualify well and if he keeps in touch with the leaders(Mclarens& Renaults),who would retire eventually,he has a good chance to win it.

Button,i also expect BAR to be stronger here,if his BAR can survive the BBQ,expect him on podium & with a bit of luck mayb his first win.

If there are no incidents(unlikely) or if there is no safety car period(very unlikely),Kimi (likely) or Montoya(most likely) will take the win

Graham Ross · Post by **Graham Ross** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 4:58 pm

Kapel wrote:If there are no incidents(unlikely) or if there is no safety car period(very unlikely),Kimi (likely) or Montoya(most likely) will take the win

Too right, they'll bring the safety car even if there wasn't an incident

Like TV breaks, a safety car break

Byron Forbes · Post by **Byron Forbes** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 5:11 pm

The sounds from inside Webber's head - tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock......................................................

Kapel · Post by **Kapel** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 8:43 pm

Michael has played down his chances in this race,but has said they are a force to reckon with now

Does he mean to say,that if an incident has to happen on track they would be the lucky ones to capture & make the most of it?

Ed · Post by Ed » Thu Jun 16, 2005 11:28 pm

Weather forecast is now mostly sunny on all 3 days. Race day high is expected to be 26 degrees.

Looks like another hot one on the track!

JayVee · Post by **JayVee** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 10:41 am

Kapel wrote:Michael has played down his chances in this race,but has said they are a force to reckon with now

Does he mean to say,that if an incident has to happen on track they would be the lucky ones to capture & make the most of it?

They were lucky in Canada and that is enough for them.

I don't think we need to pay attention to what Michael is saying. We saw how slow Ferrari were in Canada so why should they be up with Renault and McLaren in Indy. I'd say the BARs have a better chance (if they don't BARBBQ that is!!)

They are having problems especially with the gearbox, how many problems have they had so far with it ?

I think Kimi will win this one

but Alonso The Cute will make a great recovery

sgd · Post by **sgd** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 11:08 am

JayVee wrote:I think Kimi will win this one but Alonso The Cute will make a great recovery

yeah, specially in the start... and hopefully Montoya too...

Byron Forbes · Post by **Byron Forbes** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 2:22 pm

Webber says here - http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=188734

(Are you confident that you can win races?): "Yes. I should have been running second in Monaco the whole time, and if Kimi blew up I would have won the race. He didn't blow up, and I finished third. Winning: it is just that the number on the pit board changes."

Is it just me or is that pathetic? Hate to say it, but this guy is missing something.

Any respectable driver would respond with something like - "Well, the car hasn't been good enough to win in many cases and when it has been the drivers haven't been good enough".

I'm losing faith!

He's getting too good at losing and making pathetic comments like this. If there's one thing worse than a bad loser, it's a good loser!

Kapel · Post by **Kapel** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 3:32 pm

I would like to bet on Montoya for this race,no matter where he starts

JayVee · Post by **JayVee** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 8:21 pm

Byron Forbes wrote:Webber says here - http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=188734

Thanks Byron, that article has a number of questions to Danica, perhaps sgd can read and learn