2001 United States Grand Prix

Championship standings

Both championships are settled. In the Drivers’ fight for second, Coulthard holds an advantage over Barrichello and Ralf Schumacher.

Previous race

At Monza, Montoya took his maiden Formula One victory. Barrichello finished second and Ralf Schumacher third despite Ferrari’s intent to support Barrichello’s title runner-up bid. Ferrari ran stripped of advertising and with black nose tips in tribute to the September 11 victims.

Between-race developments

This is the first major international sporting event held in the United States since the September 11 attacks, 19 days earlier. Additional local, state and federal law enforcement have been deployed at Indianapolis. Several drivers and team principals publicly questioned whether the race should take place; others argued it must proceed as an act of solidarity. No security incidents occurred at the circuit. The Grand Prix Drivers’ Association is donating personal racing items to raise funds for victims. Several drivers are carrying American flags on helmets and cars. Ferrari gave Schumacher the option to withdraw; he chose to race. Ralf Schumacher called Formula One’s decision to hold the race a “bad joke” but competed. Minardi encountered visa difficulties for half their personnel, which were later resolved.

FIA doctor Gary Hartstein has ordered Burti to rest until at least the end of December. He is replaced for the final two races by Tomáš Enge.

Milestones

This is veteran British commentator Murray Walker’s final race in the commentary box.

Practice

Friday was cool and overcast, with reduced grandstand attendance. The dusty circuit spent most of FP1 being cleaned; Schumacher was fastest. Häkkinen’s engine required a full change after a pneumatic valve failure restricted him to four laps in FP1. Enge spun at turn eight in FP2 and stalled across the track; two Jaguars narrowly missed his stationary car. Fisichella was in the gravel at turn four after five minutes of FP2.

Saturday was sunny. Schumacher led FP3 but abandoned his car on the grass at the pit exit in FP4 with an oil pump failure, requiring an engine change for qualifying. Häkkinen moved to second-fastest overall. Montoya spun through 180 degrees at turn six in FP4. Trulli spun between turns nine and ten; Bernoldi also spun backwards onto the turn eight escape road and stalled.