Race Results 2003


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Round 15 - USA, Indianapolis - Race Results

Conditions: intermittent rain; Temperatures: track C, air C

Position  Driver  Car (Tyres)  Time/Retirement Laps Pitstops
1  Michael SCHUMACHER  Ferrari (B)  1h 33m 35.997s 73 3
2  Kimi RAIKKONEN  McLaren Mercedes (M)  + 0m 18.200s 73 3
3  Heinz-Harald FRENTZEN  Sauber Petronas (B)  + 0m 37.900s 73 2
4  Jarno TRULLI  Renault (M)  + 0m 48.300s 73 3
5  Nick HEIDFELD  Sauber Petronas (B)  + 0m 56.400s 73 3
6  Juan Pablo MONTOYA  BMW Williams (M)  + 1 lap 72 4*
7  Giancarlo FISICHELLA  Jordan Ford (B)  + 1 lap 72 2
8  Justin WILSON  Jaguar Cosworth (M)  + 2 laps 71 2
9  Cristiano da MATTA  Toyota (M)  + 2 laps 71 6*
10  Jos VERSTAPPEN  Minardi Cosworth (B)  + 4 laps 69 3
11  Nicolas KIESA  Minardi Cosworth (B)  + 4 laps 69 5
 Not classified
Ret  Jacques VILLENEUVE  BAR Honda (B)  Engine 62 4
Ret  Ralph FIRMAN  Jordan Ford (B)  Spin 48 6
Ret  David COULTHARD  McLaren Mercedes (M)  Gearbox 45 4*
Ret  Fernando ALONSO  Renault (M)  Engine 44 3
Ret  Jenson BUTTON  BAR Honda (B)  Engine 41 1
Ret  Oliver PANIS  Toyota (M)  Spin 27 4
Ret  Mark WEBBER  Jaguar Cosworth (M)  Spin 21 0
Ret  Ralf SCHUMACHER  BMW Williams (M)  Spin 21 1
Ret  Rubens BARRICHELLO  Ferrari (B)  Spin - contact with JPM 2 0

Notes:

* Includes drive-thru penalties as follows: Montoya for avoidable incident with Barrichello, Coulthard and da Matta for pitlane speeding.

A torrid race for Montoya - a dreadful start saw him dropping from 4th on the grid to 7th and in his haste to recover, he clipped Barrichello who spun into retirement. He got up to 2nd, but first fuel stop was hampered by a broken fuel rig, then the stewards imposed a drive-thru penalty for the incident with RB which he had to serve when he should have been coming in for wet tyres. Another lap saw him doing a bit of rally-cross before he could eventually get wets on board, but he appeared to put full wets on and stayed out on them too long, losing yet more time. Back on dries towards the end of the race he drove hard but could only make it to 6th, one place to low to keep his championship hopes alive.

Raikkonen, however, did everything he needed to do, short of winning. He kept it on the black stuff where others failed in the difficult conditions and kept his cool to take 2nd, thus retaining a slim mathematical chance of winning the championship - all he needs is to win in Suzuka with Michael Schumacher failing to finish!

Michael Schumacher, starting from 7th and suffering in light rain early in the race, was fortunate that the weather turned his way, the Bridgestone intermediates having a clear advantage over the Michelins. He drove a controlled race to take the win that all but secures his 6th championship.

Other highlights included a race-leading stint from Button, who benefitted from his scheduled pitstop coming at exactly the right time to change to wets. He had been overhauled by MS, but was holding on to 2nd and looking good for his first podium finish when his Honda engine let go.

The Sauber duo of Frentzen and Heidfeld finished 3rd and 5th respectively, taking Sauber from 9th to 5th in the Constructors Championship.

This race saw more pitlane action than any I can remember, with 18 drivers completing a total of 56 pitstops and 3 drive-thru penalties!

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