2000 United States GP Practice 2
The 2nd Friday Practice session for Round 15 of the 2000 F1 season at Indianapolis.
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MotorTranscript
00:00Live from the Indianapolis motor speedway, the track has just opened and the green flag
00:06waves for the second hour of practice for the United States Grand Prix.
00:10David Coulthard, whose McLaren Mercedes got only two laps of practice in the first hour
00:16due to electrical problems, is the first driver on track.
00:19He is followed by a cross John Lacy.
00:22The second hour and final hour today of practice is underway on the day that holds great history
00:29and great promise for American racing.
00:33For most of the 100-year history of auto racing, the most famous name in motorsports, Indianapolis.
00:40The brickyard.
00:42The Indy 500.
00:44The world's largest single-day sporting spectator event.
00:49And so they came to be a part of our heritage and our folklore, the legends who lived and
00:55sometimes died in their attempts to win at Indy.
00:58The names of the drivers and their cars became as familiar as the immortal words.
01:07Now it is time for formula one, the pinnacle of international auto racing.
01:17The finest drivers in the world in the most exotic race cars in the world.
01:23The favorites include Ferrari, McLaren, and world champion drivers Schumacher, Haakonen,
01:29and Mueller.
01:30Welcome to a new era in formula one and American motorsports.
01:36Welcome to the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis.
01:40Hello, everyone, and welcome back to the Indianapolis motor speedway, the greatest race course in
01:45the world.
01:46Now plays host to formula one, returning to the United States for the first time in nine
01:50years.
01:51I'm Mike joy alongside Derek bell.
01:54What did we learn in that first hour of practice?
01:56We learned the track is pretty quick, 220 miles an hour straight.
01:59It's all about getting the grip back into the surface because it's a brand-new surface
02:03on that infield.
02:04It's not easy for these guys.
02:05But now they're out there and it's all about setting the car up for the race.
02:08That's what it's about now.
02:09Michael Schumacher was quickest.
02:11Nick Heidfeldt had the fastest, the fastest straightaway speed was one of the arrows just
02:17for stopping.
02:18Excuse me.
02:19Schumacher was fastest but not particularly fast around the oval.
02:21That's it.
02:22He was 20 miles an hour slow around the oval.
02:25That's 1.2 miles of the track and the other 1.4 miles is the infield.
02:29It shows how important that bit is.
02:31Downforce versus drag.
02:33Let's have a look at some of the highlights from the first hour of practice.
02:36Heinz Harrell-Frenson was the first driver to come on to the course at 11 a.m.
02:39Followed by Johnny Herbert who was the first driver to complete a lap of the speedway and
02:44infield road course in the first one-hour practice session.
02:47A major incident.
02:48This one.
02:49Giacarlo Fisichella.
02:50He just understeered across the road and went in the tire wall.
02:54Fortunately without injury but damage to his car and they'll be working on that to get
02:57it out for the second session.
02:59David Coulthard there with Norbert Haug, a spectator after electrical problems, sidelined
03:03his McLaren for most of the hour.
03:05And here in a Fox Sports exclusive view, we run along with Michael Schumacher in his Ferrari
03:10as he was the fastest but McLaren had their problems.
03:16Three minor problems really.
03:18We had an electrical fault on David's car which is somewhat frustrating.
03:24It does happen with how close the turnaround time is for this event.
03:30We didn't actually shake the cars down and it just was a fault that would have been normally
03:35caught in that process.
03:36On Micka's car we had a gearbox problem and elected to change the gearbox which the guys
03:42did in sort of 17 minutes which was pretty good going.
03:46But on the upside, the car's actually handling very well and Micka actually likes the circuit
03:53a lot so I think we're all quite surprised actually that the driver's so enthusiastic
03:59about the circuit.
04:00He says it's a good circuit.
04:02A track that is very, very smooth.
04:07You can choose so many lines into a corner because it's so wide in some areas.
04:12You know, the turn 13, the turn 1 of the oval is quite impressive.
04:19I thought that we would get more speed into it.
04:22I mean, it's not an easy flat corner but I'm impressed.
04:26I mean, it's a wonderful feeling.
04:31Here is David Cotard who completed only two laps in the morning session.
04:35His teammate, Micka Hockenheim, got out onto the track for one flying lap at the final
04:39end of the hour and posted the third fastest time of the day.
04:43So here are the morning practice times.
04:45Michael Schumacher, the only driver under a minute 15, his Ferrari teammate, there's
04:50Micka Hockenheim on that final flying lap, Jenson Button, the phenomenal rookie for Williams,
04:56Jack Villeneuve's B.A.R., Alexander for Benetton were the top half dozen.
05:03The two Jordans, the Jaguar of Irvine, Heitfeldt's Prost, Riccardo Zonta, Johnny Herbert, the
05:09top dozen, and we'll take a look through the entire field of 22 drivers and show you
05:13their top practice times from the first hour.
05:19You see that David Cotard did not get a single flying lap in the morning session.
05:23He just clocked in a 1.16.
05:26Remember you lose that first hour and you actually lost quite a lot of, it sounds stupid,
05:30you've lost a lot of time, you've lost a lot of momentum, it takes a lot of catching back
05:33up again.
05:35So now Cotard has to learn the course, something all the other drivers did in that first hour.
05:40And then concentrate on development, and as Derek pointed out, got little help from
05:43Micka Hockenheim, who managed only eight laps this morning.
05:46So they didn't really, they couldn't sort of work both cars with different setups on
05:50them because one car didn't work and the other one stopped after six laps, so they learned
05:53very little this morning.
05:54Now the two teams do have at least one spare car at their disposal, but they are not available
05:59for these Friday practice sessions, so if you break your car, it's got to be repaired
06:03to get you back out.
06:04There are two extra sets of tires because this is the first visit to this racetrack,
06:09and extra practice laps are anticipated, and the pit road speed, just 60 kilometers.
06:15So we're into the second hour of practice for Sunday's United States Grand Prix.
06:18You're seeing it all live on Fox Sports Net.
06:24Welcome back live to Formula 1 and Indy.
06:30We're in the second unofficial practice session, and now the drivers are starting to look a
06:34little bit different.
06:35The problem is, the sun's come out and it's hot.
06:39They've got to decide today, effectively, and a little bit tomorrow morning, what Bridgestone
06:43compound they're going to use.
06:44Early indications this morning when the track temperature was slightly cooler is that the
06:48softer of the two tires will be okay, but in the hotter temperatures this afternoon,
06:52that's the ballgame.
06:53Thanks, Peter.
06:54Michael Schumacher has lowered the fastest lap standard by another 7.
06:59And David Coulthard, in a total of 9 laps on the track, only 6 of those at speed, is
07:08now third fastest.
07:09And Haakonen, you're on board with him, as he has just set the fastest lap of the day.
07:16One minute, 14.7 seconds.
07:18And overshoots the end of the straight.
07:23There's the shortcut back on again, but he'll lose that lap.
07:30He'll just take this quite easy, and he'll just come in the pits and probably have the
07:46car checked out.
07:47Not that he did anything wrong, but he's probably a wise thing, having not done too many laps
07:48altogether.
07:49But he is fastest right now.
07:50Two-tenths of a second faster than Michael Schumacher's best lap, which was set just
07:57minutes ago.
07:58Joining us in the booth, Bobby Rahal, IndyCar champion, and now the CEO of CART, up until,
08:05I guess, a couple of days ago, and now it's a whole new ballgame, Derek.
08:08Well, nice to see you, Bobby.
08:10Thanks for coming up here today.
08:11My pleasure.
08:12What actually is your position at Jaguar?
08:13Well, I'm still CEO of CART until the end of the season, so I better qualify that before
08:18everybody panics.
08:19But officially, come December 1, I'll be CEO and team principal of Jaguar Racing.
08:26You're a very brave man, aren't you, coming in at the deep end?
08:29Well, some people are saying this is great, and I think one of your compatriots, Nigel
08:34Roebuck, thought I must have hit my head.
08:36So I'm excited about it.
08:39As you know, I raced over there, and I loved racing in Europe, and I just think that this
08:43is my team here in the States.
08:46Team Rahal's in good hands, so I thought, what a great opportunity.
08:49Absolutely.
08:50But what do you think you're going to be tackling first?
08:52Well, I'll tell you, when you look at the commitment that Jaguar and Ford are making
08:57towards this effort, I mean, I don't believe there's a stronger commitment out there.
09:03And when you look at the resources that we have, we should be competitive.
09:09And this year really has been not as good as last year in a lot of respects.
09:13And so it's just a matter of we have to look at the organization and see where the bottleneck
09:16is.
09:17And if we don't have these resources, why aren't they coming to bear?
09:21So now, of course, Neil Ressler, who's currently the CEO and will remain as chairman, he's
09:27been doing a lot of changes, and there's more announcements to be made in the future, but
09:30I think there's a recognition of where the difficulty lies, and we're going to do everything
09:34we can to get it sorted out.
09:35We're running with one of the Jags now, with Johnny Herbert.
09:38Would you like to be out there driving one, Bobby?
09:40Come on, be honest about it.
09:41Well, I would like to drive one one time, but I don't think I'd fit.
09:45I think if you're over about five foot eight, you're disqualified.
09:49Well, you did a couple of races in Formula One years ago, and of course you and I actually
09:53did some racing in Formula Two, I seem to recollect, a long time ago when we had no
09:56grey hair on our head.
09:59How do you reflect back on Formula One when you think about it in those days and now?
10:02Well, I ran at Watkins Glen, which at that time was the US Grand Prix.
10:06It was even before Long Beach.
10:08It was 1979.
10:09And then I ran at Montreal, the first race there.
10:13To me, I always aspired to Formula One, that's why I lived in Europe and raced there.
10:18Naturally, I was a little disappointed not to do more than the two races, but I did enjoy
10:23it.
10:24I was very fortunate to drive those cars.
10:25It was a different era than it is today, that's for sure.
10:28Far less technical.
10:29Much more just driver and car, and that was about it.
10:33But nevertheless, I guess maybe precariously now, I may be able to achieve that goal I
10:40set for myself many years ago.
10:43Johnny Herbert comes to the pit lane, along with Alexander Wurz and the Benetton.
10:46Matsutani, Jeunet go out, and now Heinz-Harald Krasin goes on to the course with Jordan.
10:52Neither of the BARs have been out early in this first half.
10:56Bobby, what does it mean to this sport as a whole, and to you as a 500 champion, to
11:01kind of share the laurels and share the circuit now with Formula One?
11:04Well, I, you know, about, it must have been six, seven years ago, Tony, we were playing
11:08golf and Tony pulled out some plans of a road racing circuit for Indianapolis, and
11:14I said, you know, at the time, I said, boy, if you could have the Indy 500, the Brickyard
11:18and the U.S. Grand Prix, I mean, what more is there to have?
11:21I mean, that's it.
11:22And I have to say, you look at the facility, and hard to believe what a spectacular job
11:27he's done.
11:28And I don't know, frankly, if it would have the same impact if the Grand Prix returning
11:33to the States would have been in any other circuit other than this one.
11:36We would agree.
11:37We're on board with Joseph Verstappen, who has the highest trap speed, the speed trap
11:42up to the top of the front straightaway, and you hear that engine revving to 17,500 RPM.
11:50We're in the second hour of Formula One practice for the U.S. Grand Prix.
11:53Bobby Rayhall, thanks for joining us.
11:54I'm glad.
11:55Mika Haakonen is the quickest thus far.
11:57Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello, David Coulthard and Jarno Trulli top the speed chart.
12:03We'll be back after this word.
12:05You're watching Formula One live on Fox Sportsnet.
12:12You're watching the second hour of practice for this Sunday's United States Grand Prix.
12:39Don't forget, Saturday, live qualifying coverage here on Fox Sportsnet on Sunday, a one-hour
12:44free race and the U.S. Grand Prix, the first one in nine years in America.
12:50Eddie Irvine, we're watching on track in the Jaguar.
12:53Peter Winsor has an update.
12:54Thanks, Mike.
12:55All morning he's been complaining about instability at the rear.
12:59I'm talking about the car, our friend, Eddie, and he made some changes during the break.
13:04They went softer at the rear, they lowered the car, and he says he's a lot happier with
13:07the car now.
13:09He's starting to play with the brake balance a little bit more, going into corners to try
13:12to get the rear end to settle.
13:13Problem at Jaguar, trying to keep the rear under control.
13:17That's actually been a problem with the Jaguar all year, Mike.
13:19They've had a lot of problems trying to stabilize that rear end.
13:21And with so little time between races, they have a race every two weeks in this calendar
13:26of 17 races, they just don't get much time to get the testing in their light, to develop
13:30the testing.
13:31Eddie is seventh fastest, make that tenth fastest on the chart now, as speeds increase
13:36and lap times drop.
13:37You're watching Gaston Mazzucati, the rookie Argentinian in the minority, as we look at
13:41the U.S. Grand Prix course.
13:43Well, that is 2.6 miles long, you can see the straight here, and this is the most important
13:48part of the circuit.
13:49220 miles an hour in the fastest straight-line car, braking for this very, very tight second-gear
13:54corner.
13:55And then you have the twists and turns up here at the end of Haldeman Straight.
13:58That is very twisty, low first-second-gear stuff.
14:01And then from there, they lead on through what I think is the most vital corner of the circuit,
14:05and that is turn 11, right there, and that takes them, really feeds them on all the way
14:09out onto the oval, and that is the most vital part of this 2.6 miles track.
14:15Very interesting, complex circuit, but for turns Mickey and Mouse, right here, turns
14:199 and 10.
14:21Very much a go-kart type of hard right, hard left.
14:26Right there in the center of the infield, behind the Speedway Museum.
14:30The track is very wide, so you have got plenty of room to play with it.
14:35We're watching Michael Schumacher come down what they call Haldeman Straight, the famous
14:39old Haldeman Boulevard, down the middle of this Internapolis Motor Speedway.
14:42Schumacher presently second-quickest by just about two-tenths behind Mika Hakkinen.
14:49And there's the complex of corners we spoke of, that are just so tight right there.
15:01He's coming straight in the pits, he had to be, he was two-and-a-half seconds down on
15:05Mika Hakkinen, so he was just out there checking things out.
15:08Remember, this time, they've done all their heavy-duty runs this morning, Michael's gained
15:12a lot of information for Ferrari, and he'll be now trying to get the car set up, in my
15:16opinion, for a race set-up, as we look at, I think, we're seeing a Lazy off the road
15:20in one of the two Prosts.
15:23Big news from Prost today is that they will have Ferrari engines next year, it was announced
15:27by Alain Prost today, and that he will remain as team principal.
15:31They'll be running the one-year-old Ferrari engine in the Prost, and will rebadge it with
15:36a sponsor name, rather than have it badged as Ferrari.
15:39There you see Jean, he's got the wheel spinning, he's trying to keep it going, but there is
15:42no ground clearance under these cars once they get in the kitty litter, and he is in
15:46there for good.
15:47Very disappointing for him, because there'll be no more running this afternoon of this
15:50very, very valuable practice time.
15:52For more on Prosters, Peter.
15:54Well, yes, down in the pit lane, a lot of people are very surprised by this move, only
15:58because Ferrari, of course, already supply engines to the Sauber-Petronas team, as well
16:04as, of course, to themselves, and now they're taking on a second customer team.
16:07Meanwhile, the team they want to beat, McLaren-Mercedes, use exclusive engines from Ilmore.
16:13So here we got McLaren concentrating exclusively on Ilmore, and Ferrari spreading their wings
16:18even more.
16:19We question, or the pit lane questions, whether actually this is the right decision for Ferrari.
16:23Well, Peter, in that Ferrari produces every part on their car, including the engines,
16:27and McLaren is not responsible for the cost of developing or producing those engines,
16:32could this be an effort by Ferrari to try to recapture some of their development and
16:37construction costs?
16:40I wonder.
16:41Well, Peter can't hear us, obviously, down there, but I would have thought it was a rather
16:46unwise move of Ferrari.
16:47I'm sure they're probably going to build it in an outhouse, remember, part of Ferrari.
16:52It wouldn't be built in the main engine development part, because they're going to be running
16:55the year 2000 engines in the year 2001, so they'll be developing new engines.
17:00I don't think it will detract from Ferrari's effort.
17:02Peter?
17:03Well, I think the bottom line is Ferrari don't need the money that badly.
17:06They don't need the money just by selling engines to Prost.
17:11I think they're probably turning sponsors away, to be honest.
17:13So I'm amazed by that decision, and I don't think from Prost's point of view it's going
17:17to change anything.
17:18Their problem is not the Peugeot engine at all.
17:19I think we'll see next year that engine is quite a good one.
17:22Their problems are much deeper than engines.
17:23Yes, remember, the Peugeot engine is going to go to Arrows for next year.
17:24Asian Motor Technology Group have taken over those Peugeot engines, and they'll be supplying
17:34those engines to the Arrows team, which should be very interesting to see how they go, because
17:37we've seen how fast the Arrows are in a straight line this year.
17:40Here's Jacques Villeneuve, the 1995 Indy 500 champion and a Formula 1 world champion, who
17:47was in the top five for most of the first hour of practice.
17:51He is currently eighth quickest, and in this first sector, as we see him, does not improve
17:57on that this time.
17:58Yeah, but as I said, my impression is, and the knowledge that we have, is that they used
18:02this session for getting the tires right for tomorrow.
18:03Remember, you said just now the temperature of this track has gone up this afternoon.
18:04They've got to decide whether they're going to use the harder or the extra hard Indy spec
18:05tire that has been specially built by Bridgestone.
18:06So Villeneuve comes around, as David Coulthard goes back out, and with him Heinz-Harald Frentzen
18:27in the Jordan.
18:28Hocken in his quickest, Michael Schumacher, second sector, just now the fastest of the
18:34day.
18:35And he's within two-tenths of Mika's quick time.
18:36Barrichello is third, Baptist, Coulthard is fourth, Jarno Trulli is fifth, and Jensen
18:37Button, Ralph Schumacher, Villeneuve, Alexander Wurz, and Heinz-Harald Frentzen.
18:38With 36 minutes to go in the second hour of practice for Sunday's United States Grand
18:55Prix, you're watching Formula 1 live on Fox Sportsnet.
19:02Tomorrow, live coverage of qualifying, a 90-minute program beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern here from
19:08Indianapolis.
19:09And then Sunday, we'll have a full hour of pre-race and the United States Grand Prix
19:16for you live here on Fox Sportsnet, noon, Eastern time.
19:20Riding with David Coulthard.
19:25Coulthard.
19:26He's just been snicking the seventh gear.
19:32Look at those revs.
19:35Seventeen and a half thousand revs as he comes down there into turn one.
19:39Brakes pulling something like 4.2G under braking.
19:42Unbelievable the way they brake.
19:44So, so quickly.
19:46With a 45-mile an hour first gear left hander, or should I say second gear left hander.
19:52And Derek, he's fastest.
19:53He has eclipsed Mika Hakkinen.
19:55David Coulthard at 114.56 on that lap we just saw completed.
20:00He is the fastest of the day.
20:02Which is remarkable when you consider he did but one lap this morning in the first session.
20:06So, he's really got to grips with the circuit.
20:08Just shows the quality of these drivers.
20:10They can do it so quickly.
20:11Let's ride with him again, but I think you'll find he's coming in.
20:14Yes, he's slowing right down, that's for sure.
20:17Quite happy with that.
20:20Through Mickey there.
20:22Very, very tight hairpins.
20:26Nine to ten out of Maus.
20:30You saw the timing sector line there painted across the racetrack to turn two suites.
20:35And here the pivotal corners.
20:37Up onto the ovals, or he'll take to the warm-up lane.
20:40If he's coming in.
20:44He just took a lap off to cool the tyres down.
20:46The centre obviously needed that data.
20:48There you hear him stick top gear.
20:56Down to second gear.
20:57Forty-five miles an hour.
21:00Off the throttle.
21:06Second to this bit.
21:09Everybody seems to wash out as they turn here.
21:11Well, everyone said after the first hour, Derek, the circuit is quite slippery because the asphalt is new.
21:15There's very little grip.
21:17The hard compound tyres they're running don't exploit the values of mechanical grip, do they?
21:23Absolutely not.
21:25David beautifully neutraled that segment there.
21:29Down Holman straight.
21:31A hundred and eighty-five miles an hour.
21:33Second gear through turn eight.
21:35Turn nine, very, very slow indeed.
21:38Little bit of power.
21:39Holding in gently.
21:42This is the all-important right-left right-hander here.
21:45Turn eleven.
21:46Have to back off a bit.
21:47And it's flat all the way through twelve.
21:52Just a little off pace at that fastest lap he set moments ago.
22:02One-fourteen-five-six.
22:07And this lap, one-fourteen-point-eight.
22:09Flat.
22:10Peter?
22:15David also has a severe head cold, we heard yesterday.
22:18I was talking to him, he sounded very clogged up.
22:20He said he probably caught it from the air conditioning, maybe on the flight over.
22:23So, remarkable performance from David to be quickest at the moment, particularly with those problems he had this morning.
22:29Also interesting to look at the way the two Ferrari and McLaren garages look from the outside.
22:34Ferrari have got four cars now.
22:36Rubens Barrichello's got a spare.
22:38Michael Schumacher's got a spare.
22:39McLaren, however, have got three cars, which is a spare in the middle.
22:43And then they've got a fourth car.
22:44That is not David Coulthard's spare.
22:48That's nice, isn't it?
22:49Makes you feel wanted.
22:51Well, so David is not only stuffed up, but he's fired up.
22:54You know, he's had a string of bad luck.
22:57As always.
22:58And here, on a circuit that's brand new to everybody, figures if it's a whole new ballgame, it'd be a great weekend to turn it around.
23:05Tough luck in that first session, but he certainly made the most of this one.
23:08Coulthard is fastest.
23:09His McLaren teammate, Hakkinen, is second.
23:12The two Ferraris, Schumacher and Barrichello, are third and fourth.
23:19Let's give you a little overview of some of the top Formula 1 teams, beginning with McLaren Mercedes.
23:26McLaren Mercedes, led by Mika Hakkinen.
23:29This Finn is gunning to be the first driver since 1957 to win three driver championships in a row.
23:35His teammate is David Coulthard.
23:37With nine career wins, the Scotsman is always a threat to the championship.
23:46Frost Peugeot.
23:49Veteran Frenchman, Jean Alessi, is in his 12th season driving F1 and still wants more and expects nothing less.
23:57This quiet and underrated rookie from Germany, Nick Heidfeld, rounds out the team from France.
24:03B.A.R. Honda.
24:041997 world champion, Jacques Villeneuve, is the commander of the team.
24:09Aggressive and intense are the only two words that best describe this Canadian.
24:17Ricardo Zonta from Brazil is driving in his second season with the team, and his sixth place finish two weeks ago in Italy was his best.
24:27There is Jasper Stappen, who had the fastest speed through the speed trap on the front straightaway.
24:31In the turn one and two complex, he's gone off the course, and his arrows have gone on the hook.
24:40So we'll return to the second hour of practice for Sunday's United States Grand Prix.
24:44After this word, you are watching Formula 1 live on Fox Sportsnet.
24:50Michael Schumacher battles Mika Hakkinen for the world championship.
24:53They are but two points apart.
24:55Coming to Indianapolis, three races to go in this 2000 season.
25:00They have traded victories, traded barbs, and I think now, as evidenced by the press conference, have a healthy respect for one another.
25:08Here's what's happened this season to the point lead.
25:13And now it is Schumacher's turn.
25:16Here's what's happened this season to the point lead.
25:18And now it is Schumacher just two points back of Hakkinen.
25:22He has really erased the 24 point lead since Canada.
25:32And we come to a new circuit for the second time in two years.
25:35Malaysia was new last season, and now we come to the United States.
25:38A brand new circuit, and the points to be gained remaining in this season are few.
25:44And then you got David Coulthard getting there today and getting out and showing them who can be quickest if he really wants to.
25:49So, it's really hotting up.
25:51Of course, you need to have Hakkinen and Coulthard in front of the Ferraris to give Hakkinen that break, and that's what he really needs.
25:58Paul Schumacher doesn't need the two McLarens in front of him.
26:01He needs some help from Barrichello.
26:02And the two McLarens are quickest as Barrichello goes on on course.
26:06That's Ralf Schumacher, who is seventh quickest.
26:10And he ain't gonna help his brother very much, in my opinion.
26:12Ralf's out there to make his own impression, impact.
26:18Michael Schumacher going out for another go at the times.
26:21But this afternoon, it really is set-up time.
26:24They're really working on set-up for these cars.
26:26Here's a view we've not seen on Fox Sportsnet.
26:28Looking back from one of the McLarens as it comes up the front straightaway.
26:32There's the new Pagoda on the infield side.
26:37Into turn one and out of two.
26:42And for more on the fastest driver in this session, here's Peter.
26:47Well, of course, as you know, Derek, even when you're fastest, you still have problems.
26:51David Coulthard is working at the moment just to find more rear-end stability.
26:55This appears to be a problem that's fairly generic now in the pit lane.
26:58Now, everybody wants more grip at the rear.
27:00In the McLaren's case, they feel they've got good mechanical grip.
27:03They're trying to find more aerodynamic levels when the car's going through those faster corners.
27:07And he does need a bit more traction as well.
27:09Well, you can see that David had a real wild moment just before he came in on the outside of turn 11.
27:15So, you can see that they have got to get more grip on the rear end.
27:18And remember, they're trying to run as little downforce as they possibly can to get the speed on the straight.
27:23Therefore, you have to have this compromise.
27:26And this is Mika we're riding with.
27:28A look from the back of the top of the roll bar from his McLaren Mercedes, Peter.
27:32Well, I think the other thing to consider, of course, is that because Ferrari had a good morning,
27:35they could be running more fuel than McLaren at the moment.
27:38McLaren really need to catch up. They're probably running lighter.
27:41I don't know, Derek, you might have more fuel for that.
27:43Well, I did say that just now, Peter, as a matter of fact.
27:45But, obviously, Ferrari have the advantage.
27:47They had a whole one hour underneath their belt.
27:50And all the work they did this morning has really been utilized in that.
27:53And now they're getting race set up, in my opinion.
27:57And we've heard that comment from several of the teams.
27:59Sauber now working strictly on race set up.
28:01They found out what kind of speed they have.
28:03And now trying to get the car properly trimmed out.
28:05To balance, low drag on the long straightaway.
28:09Here, with high downforce as needed.
28:11You see how tight and twisty that turn 9 and 10 section is.
28:15It's like driving through the parking garage.
28:17And it's just about as slow.
28:19Well, Mika Hacken's on a flyer at the moment.
28:21He's slightly quicker than David Coulthard in that first section.
28:23Soon to see just how he pans out at the end of this lap.
28:27Pedro Diniz.
28:32Ricardo Zonta comes back to the pit lane after a run.
28:36VAR.
28:37Here comes Diniz back into the pits.
28:42Hacken, and letting it all hang out.
28:44Got himself a little sideways there.
28:46Yes, he's really well.
28:47Remember, he's trying like crazy now as he comes through turns 11 and 12.
28:50Out onto the straightaway.
28:52This is where we're going to see whether he can do it.
28:54This is where we're going to see whether he does get that time on David.
28:57But he didn't look like it, judging by that last segment.
29:02Half a second slower than Coulthard's best in the second segment.
29:05And four tenths slower in the third segment.
29:08So Hacken has remained second fastest.
29:10There's Coulthard.
29:11Coulthard is in the garage, being worked on.
29:15They've got to also decide with McLaren, you know, just what is the best tyre set up for their car.
29:19McLaren's inherently can always run a little less downforce than Ferraris.
29:23You've had the same mechanical grip.
29:29So McLaren making changes.
29:31They are quickest so far, trying to gain ground as we take a close look at some of the other teams.
29:38Williams BMW.
29:39Germany's Ralf Schumacher continues his climb to be the best of the next generation.
29:43His next goal is to place higher than his brother Michael.
29:46Rookie sensation Jenson Button from Great Britain continues to thrill and surprise the F1 world.
29:52A win not far away.
29:56Minardi Ford.
29:57Spain's hero Marc Genet is in his second season and part of the new Spanish armada of drivers.
30:03Gaston Mazzucati, the rookie from Argentina, has surprised many with his flair and speed.
30:09Sauber Petronas.
30:10In his sixth season, the polished Brazilian Pedro Diniz continues to drive hard in his search for his first Formula 1 win.
30:20Mika Salo is back in the race.
30:22He's been in the race for a long time.
30:24He's been in the race for a long time.
30:26He's been in the race for a long time.
30:28He's been in the race for a long time.
30:31Mika Salo is the other driver from Finland.
30:33Close to a victory last year as Ferrari's super sub, Salo proved he can win with the best of them.
30:43So practice continues.
30:4420 minutes left in this second hour of practice for Sunday's United States Grand Prix.
30:48You're watching it live on Fox Sports Net.
30:53Our United States Grand Prix weekend continues with Saturday qualifying a 90-minute program at 2 p.m. Eastern and then Sunday.
31:02A one-hour free race and the U.S. Grand Prix beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern time.
31:07Join us on Fox Sports Net.
31:09Your home for live coverage of the United States Grand Prix and the entire Formula 1 season.
31:15Here's Mika Hocken being pushed back in.
31:17Mika Hocken being pushed back in.
31:19Second fastest and we're noting on the times.
31:21Derek caught that Michael Schumacher has not posted a time in this hour.
31:25They've been working on setup but they've really not been trying to make a run quicker than what they did this morning.
31:31No, they're trying it with full tank load of fuel so they know.
31:34And bearing tanks of fuel so they know just how the car handles.
31:37Because you don't know if it's going to bottom out.
31:39The circuit is very smooth so they shouldn't have too much problem with that.
31:42But when you break it into the straight at 220 miles an hour, you do get inclined to get a certain amount of bottoming going on.
31:49At the same time, remember, the track is getting more grip to it because there's more rubber running on the road from all the cars that have gone around.
31:56So the times will improve.
32:01Jacques Villeneuve out half a second slower than Coulthard's quick lap but he is now 8th on the speed chart.
32:08Peter, in this morning's session, Ralf Schumacher was complaining of a vibration.
32:12What did they find?
32:13Well, they found that one of the wheel bearings had gone on the left front there.
32:16So that was quite a major thing for him.
32:18Not a good thing to have go on a race car, of course, but everything's okay now.
32:22And Ralf out there, probably in best Williams tradition, running full, full, full of fuel.
32:26Very heavy.
32:27I can't actually see the times at the moment but you'd have a better feel for that than I.
32:31He's in fact 7th quickest at this time, Peter.
32:34That was from this morning, I think, or not?
32:35Yes, it was right at the end there.
32:37But it shows that he was up there right at the end when he went out with the wheel bearing changed on lighter fuel.
32:41So we'll see how he gets on now this afternoon.
32:44And on a bank track, like turn 1 here at Indianapolis, turn 13 of the Grand Prix course,
32:49those left side wheel bearings take on probably as much loading as they do anywhere else these cars run in the world.
32:55Yeah, but of course it happened very early in the session.
32:57He felt the car became very unstable at the front.
33:02Shaq Villeneuve, the 95 Indy 500 champion and 97 Formula 1 champion.
33:12Waiting for a check from his British-American racing team.
33:16You note that many of the Formula 1 teams are sponsored by tobacco interests, cigarette companies,
33:21but not all of them appear on the cars here at Indianapolis.
33:24In a settlement with the U.S. government, each tobacco company voluntarily restricted themselves
33:30to one sporting event activity.
33:32Since Marlboro is involved in karting, you will not see their name or logo on the Ferraris,
33:37and the same with Benson & Hedges on the Jordans.
33:40The other cigarette brands are not involved in marketing in the United States
33:44and thus are permitted to carry their branding logos.
33:48But it's like Mile 7 right there on Fisichella's Benetton.
33:52But Derek, it's the first time that I can remember seeing cigarette advertising on some cars and not on others.
33:58Absolutely, but I guess it just shows you when they come across that bit of water, it's all different over here.
34:03Yes.
34:05Fisichella, of course, did go off the road this morning at this next corner at Turn 11.
34:11He slid off the road in that fence there, so he's going to be a little bit more cautious this afternoon.
34:15Let's ride with him.
34:29Well, this is the incident this morning.
34:32Giancarlo comes into Turn 11, as I mentioned just now, turns in the corner.
34:36Nothing at the front at all. Nobody at home, and off he goes, straight into the dial wall.
34:41That was the end of that.
34:42They had to repair the car because you are only allowed to use the car you start the day on for the whole of the day.
34:49And trouble for Ralf Schumacher, Derek.
34:51He's just taken a long slide across the grass and back onto the asphalt,
34:55and another part of the course, but it was a long, very long off-course excursion for Ralf Schumacher.
35:00And fortunately, it happened in an area where there were no barriers,
35:03so he was able to drive through the grass and back onto the surface.
35:07Well, one has to say, there are some super runoff areas here at Indianapolis,
35:11at the Speedway Grand Prix Circuit.
35:13They've done such a magnificent job in the last two years.
35:16But, of course, I believe that Ralf Schumacher is somewhat rattled by Jenson Button's performance.
35:22He's got Montoya coming next year, as we well know,
35:24but Jenson Button is doing one heck of a job for Williams at this time.
35:28This is Button, and he is a tenth of a second faster than Ralf Schumacher,
35:32and he's been on, or he's been near the top of the speed chart all day long.
35:38Let's have a look at a few more of the Formula 1 teams, beginning with the Benetton team.
35:43Up close.
35:44Benetton Supertec. Giancarlo Fisichella from Italy has one career pole to his name.
35:49Another new star in the new generation of F1 drivers.
35:54Alexander Wurz from Austria is a former mountain bike champion and rock climber.
35:58Formula 1 is the pinnacle for Wurz.
36:04Jordan Bugenhonda. Germany's Heinz-Harald Frenzen has three wins and two losses.
36:10Jordan Bugenhonda. Germany's Heinz-Harald Frenzen has three wins and two pole positions.
36:15With full Honda power next year, he hopes to move Yardo Trulli as in his fourth Formula 1 season.
36:21This guy shines in qualifying and hopes one day to drive for his country's favorite team, Ferrari.
36:28Aero Supertec. Pedro de la Rosa, the elegant Spaniard, has already proved he can run with the big boys in the front.
36:35Jasper Stappen is a Dutch veteran in his sixth Formula 1 season, and he had an impressive fourth place finish two weeks ago in Italy.
36:48Practice round continues here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
36:51Johnny Herbert has just rolled to a halt out on the course with a flat left rear tire.
36:56Here's a look at constructors and now driver points.
36:58Mika Hakkinen just two points up on Michael Schumacher.
37:01David Coulthard with an outside shot.
37:03Barrichello, Ralf Schumacher, and Giancarlo Fisichella.
37:07We'll be right back to Indy after this.
37:11Fox Sportsnet is your home for Formula 1.
37:13The U.S. Grand Prix qualifying tomorrow, 90 minutes, beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern.
37:18And a one-hour free race in the U.S. Grand Prix on Sunday.
37:25Mika Hakkinen and Michael Schumacher both on a flyer.
37:28And Hakkinen just now not able to eclipse David Coulthard's fast time of the day.
37:35Schumacher just ran a 1.15.1, and that's also about six-tenths off the fastest pace.
37:40But again, we don't know if they're running for speed or running a high fuel loads or running different downforce configurations.
37:45No, and he got held up a bit there by one of the two Jordans.
37:48Obviously, you have to do more than one lap.
37:51When you decide on that ultimate setup, you've got to do a few laps.
37:54When you decide on that ultimate setup, you've got to do a few laps.
37:57Just check how the tires are working with that heavy load of fuel, and he hasn't really done that yet.
38:02So he may well be doing a couple of three laps here just to check before the end.
38:06It's a pivotal race for Schumacher, as he now comes into the pits.
38:10He is two points behind Mika Hakkinen with three races to go.
38:15He has closed to within two, but really needs to wrest the point lead from Hakkinen.
38:21Had to really put this championship on equal footing.
38:24And there you see the lack of the cigarette advertising on Schumacher's helmet and on the Ferrari.
38:30Sure is funny, Derek, to see cars come up this front straightaway from south to north for the first time ever.
38:37Yeah, it's incredible to stand here and watch it.
38:39I must admit, I've never stood up here quite so high, but to watch them coming out of the Turn 1 the wrong way is very, very impressive,
38:45one has to say, as we ride here with Villeneuve, who knew what it was like to go the right way around,
38:50having won it five years ago, the 500, that is.
38:54The only driver in the race that has done the Indy 500 and won it in this field.
39:06And what a scream, what a tortured scream from those V10s, rattling all the galvanized steel here at Indy.
39:13Braking down there as he goes into Turn 8.
39:17Sharp acceleration.
39:19Turn 9.
39:20Always seem to get a bit of push in it, all the cars seem to get push understeer through that corner.
39:24You've got to hold it in really tight for lefty, you've only got two wide though, Jacques.
39:28You've got this one to come and it's very important to set yourself up for that corner, because it leads on straightaway.
39:42The engines are on full song for 22 seconds, that's the longest of any Grand Prix circuit in the world.
39:58Wow, that's a long time.
40:01That is really a long time.
40:02It is fantastic actually when you sit back with the driver and watch him and realize that he's actually driving around this incredible Indy 500 circuit.
40:11I still can't help but call it the Indy 500 circuit.
40:15Peter said he liked the banked turn down at Turn 1, he said it's like a straightaway for us.
40:20A little slippery surface because it's new, but very fun to drive.
40:23Very different kind of challenge.
40:28Build-up slows a bit.
40:33David Coulthard goes back out.
40:36It'll be the first clockwise race, the first non-oval track race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
40:41First race without an American driver.
40:44And Dan Knutson, who does our stats, tells us it is not going to be the first race in the rain.
40:48The 500 in 1935, part of that was run in rain, and in 1940, the last 20 laps were run in a drizzle.
40:55But if it's raining Sunday, they will race.
40:59Well, let's continue our round of looks at the Formula 1 teams with a look at Ferrari and Jaguar.
41:07Ferrari.
41:10Led by double world champion Michael Schumacher from Germany, Schumacher is focused on one thing,
41:16to give Ferrari their first driver's title since 1979.
41:20Rubens Barrichello is the Brazilian team with Schumacher,
41:23Rubens Barrichello is the Brazilian team with Schumacher,
41:26and he scored his first memorable and emotional win this year in Germany, Jaguar.
41:31The cat is back with Ireland's Eddie Irvine leading the team with his unique personality.
41:36But he's not happy with only four career victories.
41:39Britain's Johnny Herbert is in his final Formula 1 season after 12 years and three wins.
41:44He wants to add to that total before departing.
41:48So David Coulthard tops the speed chart.
41:50Mika Hakkinen, Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello.
41:54Five minutes left in this practice session.
42:01Welcome back to Indianapolis.
42:02There's the yard of bricks at start and finish.
42:04They'll run against it the wrong way for the first time on Sunday in the U.S. Grand Prix.
42:08Jarno Trulli's Jordan has come to a halt at the entrance of turn one,
42:13much close to where Johnny Herbert locked his brake and banged off the wall entering turn one,
42:18and his session is done.
42:19Let's check with Peter.
42:20Well, yes, Mike.
42:21Johnny Herbert thinks something might have broken on the rear suspension there,
42:24but that doesn't really change the day that has been truly memorable for Formula 1.
42:28Everybody's looking forward to qualifying tomorrow.
42:30There was some doubt about whether we should have tested here on Thursday,
42:33but this circuit has passed with flying colors.
42:35Brilliant.
42:36Derek, we ended the first hour of practice with the red cars,
42:40the Ferraris 1-2 on the speed chart.
42:42It looks as if we'll end this second hour of practice with the two McLarens at the top of the chart.
42:48Well, I don't think that's going to bother Ferrari very much.
42:50Schumacher is coming over the line now.
42:52Is he going to get pole?
42:53No.
42:54But I don't think they're particularly bothered about that.
42:56They've set their car up.
42:57They've had a great advantage over the McLarens in that setup for the race on Sunday.
43:01Remember, qualifying tomorrow.
43:03They'll have warm-up in the morning and a session then to set the car up for qualifying.
43:07So this seesaw battle between McLaren and Ferrari continues.
43:11Who will be the fastest qualifier and be the first-ever pole sitter for Formula 1 at the Brickyard?
43:16We will find out tomorrow live on Fox Sportsnet.
43:21David Coulthard, Paces qualifying.
43:24Our Paces practice with Mika Hocken and 2nd and tomorrow qualifying 2 p.m. Eastern Time.
43:3090 minutes, 60 minutes of qualifying, a 30-minute wrap-up.
43:34And you'll see it live here on Fox Sportsnet.
43:38So it's Coulthard and Hocken, Schumacher and Barrichello, the two Ferraris.
43:43Ralph Schumacher, 5th fastest.
43:45Heinz-Harald Frentzen, 6th.
43:47Jarno Trulli, 7th.
43:48Jenson Button, Jack Villeneuve and Alexander Burtz are the 10th fastest after two hours of practice.
43:58Look at some of the highlights from this second session.
44:01David Coulthard, quick.
44:03Trouble for Jordan.
44:05Mika Hocken right to the top of the chart.
44:10And we'll be back with you live tomorrow for qualifying for the United States Grand Prix.
44:16The first at Indy and the first in the U.S. in nine years.
44:19We'll be live on Fox Sportsnet tomorrow.