Indianapolis Grand Prix Review

We saw a superb example of modern pit-strategy F1 racing, with the odd dose of overtaking thrown in. It was representative of what F1 is about these days, but it had enough action to keep the undecided American viewers satisfied. The F1 fraternity also showed just the right amount of sensitivity regarding the events of September 11, putting on what could only be described as a professional display. Several drivers and teams displayed American flags, without it ever going over the top.

While the crowd was down on last year, an attendance of 175,000 on race day was still healthy and bodes well for the future of F1 at Indy. However, if there is to be any criticism, it is to be directed at the track, which is simply too mickey mouse, especially with the increased lap speeds shown this year which slashed the pole time, already in the short 74-second bracket last year, by a huge three seconds. If only the track could utilise two turns of the superspeedway, then that would make things really exciting.

The major shock of the weekend, though, was not over who was at the front of the grid, but the one man who was near the tail-end of it. It was simply incredible how Jacques Villeneuve never got it together at a track where, last year, he drove a great race to finish 4th. 18th on the grid, behind Fernando Alonso's Minardi, was not the place for an ex-World Champion. He then had a terribly nondescript race, eventually retiring after a rather silly collision with Pedro de la Rosa's Jaguar.

Villeneuve has been a real enigma in 2001. Sure, the BAR hasn't been all that competitive, and even Olivier Panis hasn't really shone, but after his awful crash in Melbourne, is the Canadian still feeling the effects or is he just fine? He hasn't shown any real spark this year, and in the middle of a shocking weekend at Indianapolis, he comes out and resignedly claims his best years are past him. What sort of game is he trying to play here? He had no real competition for 'Reject of the Race' this weekend.

REJECT OF THE RACE
Jacques Villeneuve
Qualified behind a Minardi and was nowhere come Sunday

In the end, he never even got to start on the front row after a bizarre confrontation with the stewards. After a minor infringement in the morning warm-up, the powers that be decided to take away his best lap from qualifying. Where on earth did that come from? Is it in the FIA rule book? Regardless, it seemed a terrifically worrying demonstration of draconian arbitrary power, of which there seems to be a bit too much in F1. That the Finn had to start from 4th was just silly.

It has to be said, though, that he drove a fantastic race. With Rubens Barrichello having not quite done enough to make his brave two-stop strategy work, and eventually retiring with the first Ferrari engine failure in a race since Pontius Pilate, and with Ralf Schumacher making a total hash of his two-stop plan, not helped by uncooperative Michelin rubber, this ended up being a race between the one-stoppers.

Who knows if Montoya could have held on after his stop, if it were not for another mechanical problem? I don't understand how the Michelin tyres work (and neither does anyone else, for that matter), so I don't have the answer. On a track where passing was certainly possible down the front straight, his retirement robbed the race of a potential three or four-way scrap for victory.

So the door was open for Hakkinen if he was good enough. Mika responded marvellously, biding his time early while he was on a heavy fuel load, then making up more time than he needed to in order to leapfrog Michael in the pits, and finally being able to respond to the challenge Barrichello threw at him. It was the Finn's best drive all year, but once again, it did seem to reflect a man out to have a bit of fun and to enjoy his work now that the speculation over his future was over.

4th on the road was Jarno Trulli in the Jordan, but just when we thought the Italian's luck had turned he was disqualified for too much wear on his skid block, the first time that rule has been invoked since Schumi's disqualification at Spa in 1994. Although the decision is under appeal, it seems odd to think that a plank worn 1.5mm beyond the allowed 1mm is the result of sheer bad luck. Whoever's fault it was in set-up, Jarno must now put behind him a second luckless season in a row and look forward to the future.

Still in the Jordan camp, Trulli's loss was team-mate Jean Alesi's gain (and not for the first time either, after Alesi scored at Spa on the back of Trulli's retirement), the Frenchman scoring a point for 6th in his 200th GP. But frankly, as much as I like him, Alesi has been unable to match Trulli, and those who try to argue that Jean is as fast as he ever was, are plainly kidding themselves. While I would love to see him get one last chance with Jordan in 2002, I wouldn't be surprised if EJ plumps for someone else.

On a sad note, the US GP also farewelled two of F1's most respected men off the track. One was long-time McLaren man Jo Ramirez, an emotional but seemingly hugely personable man, who is as much part of the McLaren furniture as some of their best-loved drivers. Ramirez forged very deep relationships with both Ayrton Senna and Hakkinen, with the great Brazilian champion in particular. He will be missed at Woking next year, no doubt about it, and it will be interesting to see if McLaren can recover from losing both Hakkinen and Ramirez in one go.

The other departure, of course, was that of ITV commentator Murray Walker. Everything that could be said about the great man has already been said this year, but certainly the Grand Prix coverage in much of the English-speaking world will never be the same again, whoever tries to fill the gap. It seemed fitting that Murray signed off in style, delivering one of his best calls all year on a race that provided interest from start to finish, committing a few typical bloopers along the way. We will miss his voice dearly, and we can only wish him a very happy retirement.