2005 United States Grand Prix

Championship standings

Alonso leads the Drivers’ Championship with 59 points, ahead of Räikkönen on 37 and Trulli on 27. Williams driver Heidfeld is fourth with 25 and Schumacher fifth with 24. In the Constructors’ Championship, Renault lead with 76 points, McLaren second on 63, with Williams and Toyota tied for third on 47 and Ferrari fifth on 45.

Previous race

Räikkönen won Canada, taking his third win from the previous four races and cutting Alonso’s championship lead to 22 points. Both Renaults retired from the race — Fisichella with hydraulics, Alonso after hitting the wall at turn four. Ferrari’s Schumacher was second and Barrichello third. Montoya was disqualified for leaving the pitlane against a red light during the safety car period.

Between-race developments

During Friday practice, Ralf Schumacher crashes heavily in Turn 13 at Indianapolis after his left-rear tyre fails. He is unable to continue and is replaced for the remainder of the weekend by Toyota test driver Ricardo Zonta, who himself suffers a left-rear tyre failure during practice at the same corner.

Michelin advises its seven customer teams — BAR, McLaren, Red Bull, Renault, Sauber, Toyota, and Williams — that without a reduction in speed through Turn 13, the tyres provided cannot be guaranteed safe for more than ten laps. Michelin attributes the failures in part to a repave of the oval section after the 2004 Brickyard 400, which has produced a more abrasive surface. Michelin flies in a different tyre specification from Clermont-Ferrand, but those tyres prove to have the same problem when tested.

The FIA, through Race Director Charlie Whiting, refuses Michelin’s request to install a chicane in Turn 13, stating that altering the track layout is “out of the question” and would not be sanctioned. Whiting suggests the Michelin-shod teams either limit their drivers’ speed through the corner or use the alternative tyres, subject to a penalty. A meeting on race morning involving FIA-side representatives, the Michelin team principals, Bridgestone team representatives, and Bernie Ecclestone fails to reach a compromise. Jean Todt does not attend the meeting; he subsequently states he would not have agreed to the chicane.

The six Bridgestone-shod cars — Ferrari (Schumacher and Barrichello), Jordan (Monteiro and Karthikeyan), and Minardi (Albers and Friesacher) — are entered to race normally.