2000 United States GP Pre Race

  • 2 months ago
The pre race for Round 15 of the 2000 F1 season at Indianapolis.
Transcript
00:00You are witness to racing history.
00:04We are live at the Indianapolis motor speedway.
00:07For the first time in 20 years, formula one has an American home.
00:11For the first time in nine years, grand prix racing returns to the United States.
00:17And for the first time in the 92-year history of the Indianapolis motor speedway, they will
00:22race clockwise and divert from the four turn two and a half mile tri-oval to a brand new
00:28infield.
00:31Welcome to the United States grand prix.
00:34In May, every seat was sold out and last week, every general admission standing room only
00:40position was sold out.
00:42And a quarter million fans are here.
00:45At 7 o'clock this morning, the crowd around the paddock entrance was so thick, 95, 8500
00:51had to bust his way through the crowd to come in.
00:59The stands are full of fans.
01:00The area below the grand stands sheltering some of those who may not have brought enough
01:04protective rain gear.
01:06These F1 fans are a hearty lot and prepared for history in the making and a great day
01:11of racing.
01:13Formula one returns to the United States and it is just hard to describe how important
01:18this is.
01:23For nearly a century, this has been the most famous venue in all of motorsports.
01:28Indianapolis.
01:29The brickyard.
01:30Home to the Indy 500, the world's biggest single-day spectator sporting event.
01:37And so they came to be a part of our heritage and our folklore, the legends, the heroes
01:43who lived, sometimes died in their attempts to win at Indy.
01:47Vukovic, Andretti, Mears, the names of the drivers in their cars became as familiar to
01:54us as the immortal words.
01:56Gentlemen, start your engines.
02:00From 1950 through 1960, the 500 was also around to the Formula one world championship.
02:08An American oval race stood proud amongst the twisty, demanding European tracks.
02:13A line of bricks still stands at the start-finish line as a reminder of earlier dusty days.
02:20Indy's illustrious history was at the same time ensuring its future.
02:27Change came to the brickyard in 1994 with NASCAR's brickyard 400, a premier round of
02:33the Winston cup series, bringing new names to Indy's hall of fame like Jeff Gordon and
02:38Dale Earnhardt.
02:39Today, a quarter million fans will come to the greatest race course in the world to see
02:46racing from a new direction, clockwise, as the most technologically advanced cars on
02:52the planet, the most expensive, the most computer driven, Formula one comes to Indy's oval and
02:58its twisting new infield road course.
03:03At every twist and turn, perils await the favorites.
03:06Like Canadian Jack Villeneuve, the 1995 Indy 500 champion is also the 97 world Formula
03:13one champion.
03:14Driving the Honda-powered British-American racing machine, can he be the first to win
03:19on Indy's oval and its road course?
03:22Michael Schumacher, double world champion, just two points out of this year's title lead.
03:28Arguably the best driver in the world.
03:30Can his red Ferrari vault to the top of the standings today?
03:34Mika Hackett, the Finnish driver, is also a two-time world titleist, trying to become
03:40the first driver since the 1950s to win three in a row.
03:44He drives the silver arrow for McLaren Mercedes.
03:47Can he hold his point lead?
03:49Just three races remain.
03:51Will today be the make or break race of the 2000 season?
03:55For 22 of the bravest racers from around the world, racing's past, and its present
04:25Welcome to round 15 in the FIA Formula one world championship.
04:33This is the United States Grand Prix from Indianapolis motor speedway.
04:41It is cool and damp.
04:42It has rained for much of the past hour.
04:44You see rain on the lens of the helicopter-mounted camera.
04:48Chance of precipitation, 90% for the day.
04:50Humidity, 89%.
04:52The temperature has struggled today to reach 60 degrees.
04:56No matter.
04:57These drivers, these fans, all of us at fox sports net and everyone here are excited to
05:02bring you this historic race, the return of formula one to America.
05:07Hi, everyone.
05:08I'm Mike joy.
05:09Again, partnered with Derek bell, who drove the 1968 United States Grand Prix for Ferrari.
05:15You've done much of your racing in the United States through your career.
05:18What does all this mean today?
05:19It is spectacular to come to the mecca of motor racing and have a Formula one Grand
05:23Prix here.
05:24It is very special for Formula one.
05:26Big crowd and a diverse crowd.
05:27A lot of Europeans and enthusiastic American fans.
05:30This is wonderful to see such a mix and a lot of NASCAR fans.
05:33The drivers have been very enthused about coming here to Indianapolis to this great
05:38historic facility.
05:39Let's meet the man who is the president of the Indianapolis motor speedway, who with
05:43Bernie Eccleston brought Formula one back to the United States.
05:47Here's Peter Winsor.
05:48Thanks very much, Mike.
05:49Tony, nine years ago, this was a dream.
05:52Formula one at Indianapolis in just under an hour.
05:54It'll be a reality.
05:55What are your emotions at this point?
05:57Well, it's a very proud moment.
05:59You know, I have had a desire to host the United States Grand Prix here at Indianapolis
06:04for almost a decade and worked very hard over the years to try and make that happen.
06:09But finally, it's about to become reality.
06:11So it's a very emotional day and one that I can say that everyone here has worked very
06:18hard to share my vision and to make it a reality.
06:22Bernie, the American race fans are about to see a standing start, probably on a damp track.
06:26What do you think about that?
06:27Great.
06:28This is what happens when you're dealing with the right people that arrange everything properly,
06:31you see.
06:32I mean, Tony's done such a fantastic job for us, even to this little bit of rain as well.
06:37How important is this event for Formula one?
06:40I think it's super.
06:41I mean, it's good to be back in the States.
06:42I mean, we're very happy to be here.
06:43I mean, we had not been here before because we haven't had a good venue.
06:48So now it's good.
06:49I've got to ask you, they're two points apart, Micah and Michael.
06:51What do you think is going to happen?
06:53I think Michael is going to win and level up the championship a little bit.
06:58Well, these are the two gentlemen we have to thank for bringing Formula one back to
07:02America and to Indianapolis.
07:03Back to you, Mike.
07:05Thank you, Peter.
07:07Pre-race ceremonies continue in our expanded Mercedes-Benz one hour pre-race.
07:12Let's have a look at what's ahead.
07:14We'll detail all of the construction and changes to Indianapolis for Formula one.
07:21We'll profile the Formula one teams.
07:24We'll show you slip streaming and qualifying all at once.
07:28And have more live great interviews from Peter Windsor and much more.
07:34The crowd piles in.
07:35Pre-race ceremonies continue.
07:39They were quite relaxed that Micah Hackett was in that P3 position.
07:46So the race is effectively now 17 yards longer.
07:50Thank you, Peter.
07:51Earlier this morning there were two support races, Porsche cup and Ferrari challenge.
07:54Look over here where Michael Schumacher would start.
07:57The track is largely dry.
07:59Over here where David Coulthard will start is off the racing line.
08:03That area is largely damp.
08:05But it may well be dry later.
08:06We've got an hour to go.
08:08Let's have a look at the Indianapolis motor speedway.
08:10Here we have it.
08:11You can see the oval on the outside.
08:1273 laps.
08:132.6 miles.
08:1413 corners.
08:15Four left.
08:16Nine right.
08:17The top speed around about 218 miles an hour.
08:23So let's take a look at some of the key points from our overhead cameras.
08:27There we have the whole track.
08:28There's the oval that we will not be using.
08:30But as they come down this main straightaway here, they'll be storming down here 220 miles
08:35an hour.
08:36Then they work to the infield.
08:38Very tight through this little section here.
08:40But this is the all-important turn seven as they lead out onto Holman Boulevard.
08:44That'll take them down at 185 miles an hour down to this braking area.
08:49From there they work this with a twisty bit and it's very difficult.
08:52Turn 11.
08:53That'll take them out onto the oval.
08:54From there it's flat throttle all the way around here, all the way down into turn one
08:59to turn 13 and out onto the straight.
09:02220 miles an hour as they go down the straight.
09:05So let's go out and do a lap with Jacques Villeneuve.
09:08He's going by the pits on a lovely dry day yesterday.
09:11Up to 220 miles an hour, 17,500 revs, breaking down to second gear.
09:16How can you go down those gears?
09:17You cannot see the entry into turn one.
09:20Into turn two, slips up a gear, keep it in tight.
09:23Remember, this surface is very slippery.
09:25It's brand new.
09:26Nobody's hardly run on it.
09:27These tires are very hard.
09:28They're using a special Indy spec tire to let them go around that bank and that means
09:33they have very little grip.
09:34Here we come into a very tight corner on the inside here.
09:37He's pulling around about 70 miles an hour, up to 100 miles an hour, then out onto the
09:41very, very long Holman Straight.
09:44He's pulling up through the gears up to 185 miles an hour.
09:48Brakes very hard at the end, pulling something like 2.6g down to 75 miles an hour.
09:53Don't want to go out too wide there because he goes through what we call Mickey and Mouse,
09:56this very tight right and left.
10:00Comes in there very gently on the power, be very smooth.
10:02You don't want to go out to the right too far here because you've got to get the power
10:05on for turn 11.
10:06Here he is.
10:07This is the most important corner on the circuit.
10:08He's out onto the straight through turn 12 and out onto the all-famous 500 oval.
10:14He's back up to 180 miles an hour, going through turn one, turn 13 in this racetrack at 190
10:20miles an hour, up to 220.
10:22That was a lap with Jack Villeneuve.
10:26At Hockenheim, they would accelerate full throttle for 22 seconds here at Indy.
10:31It's more like 28 seconds, more than anywhere else in the world.
10:35Let's meet a man who has seen and done it all in the world of motorsport with Peter
10:39Windsor.
10:40Thanks, Mike.
10:41Yes, Jackie Stewart, three times world champion.
10:42You almost won Indy.
10:43What's it like to watch a Formula 1 race here today?
10:46Well, I think it's great.
10:47I'm disappointed for the weather.
10:49But on the other hand, for the American public who have never seen a Formula 1 race here in
10:53Indianapolis, a rain storm like we had this morning would mean probably postponed until
10:59tomorrow.
11:00We're going to race in the rain, and they're going to see it in the rain, and I think it's
11:03going to be a very exciting Formula 1 Grand Prix.
11:06Thank you very much, Jackie.
11:07Back to you, Mike.
11:09Jackie Stewart with Jaguar.
11:12We'll take a look at Jaguar a little later in the show, but we'll begin our team profiles
11:16with the team that leads the field.
11:19That would be team McLaren.
11:22McLaren Mercedes.
11:24Led by Mika Hakkinen, this Finn is gunning to be the first driver since 1957 to win three
11:29driver championships in a row.
11:32His teammate is David Coulthard.
11:34With nine career wins, the Scotsman is always a threat to the championship.
11:42Prost Peugeot.
11:45Veteran Frenchman Jean Alessi is in his 12th season driving F1 and still wants more and
11:51expects nothing less.
11:54This quiet and underrated rookie from Germany, Nick Heidfeld, rounds out the team from France.
11:59VAR Honda.
12:011997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve is the commander of this team.
12:05Aggressive and intense are the only two words that best describe this Canadian.
12:13Ricardo Zonta from Brazil is driving in his second season with the team, and his sixth
12:17place finish two weeks ago in Italy was his best.
12:22And there's a look at the VAR team inside their garage, nearest the start finish line
12:26and yard of bricks here at the Indianapolis motor speedway.
12:32To host the United States Grand Prix.
12:34In fact, the U.S. Has had more Formula 1 host tracks than any other country.
12:38You see this ranks as the 12th race to award Formula 1 points at the Indianapolis motor
12:43speedway.
12:45Though it is the first such race exclusively for Formula 1 cars.
12:49The first United States Grand Prix was at Sebring, Florida in 1959.
12:53The next year it moved to Riverside, California, and then to Watkins Glen in upstate New York,
12:59which would host a U.S. GP for each of 20 years from 1961 through 1980.
13:05Then on to the streets of Detroit, Dallas, Las Vegas, Long Beach, finally Phoenix, Arizona.
13:14And now nine years on, Formula 1 returns.
13:17As the Indianapolis motor speedway has built such an infrastructure to hold this race.
13:22You see that many Indy 500 winners have also raced in Formula 1.
13:26Only one of those, Jack Villeneuve, is in today's field.
13:30Though almost every living 500 winner who raced Formula 1 is here today.
13:36Another Indy 500 winner who, like Villeneuve, became world champion, Mario Andretti.
13:42And it was interesting to see that even Andretti, growing up, had his heroes.
13:48For me, it was primarily Alberto Ascari.
13:52But then, you know, it was Moss, Fangio.
13:56You know, all those icons of the time that, you know, these were the big players.
14:04These are the guys who were winning the races.
14:07I tell you what, when you win and you're in Argentina
14:11and you're playing the American national anthem, then it's meaningful.
14:16I mean, you know, you're racing here and, sure, you play,
14:20you hear the national anthem before the events and so on and so forth.
14:23You take it for granted, but when it's singled out
14:26and your nation's anthem is played in a foreign land, then it's got meaning.
14:31And that's when I started feeling, you know, that, you know, how special this is.
14:36Because I'm carrying the American flag.
14:39Here's a country that hosts probably the most disciplines of motorsports
14:44of any country in the world.
14:46And we don't have a Formula One representation.
14:50And maybe just the fact that we have so many disciplines here
14:55that many of the drivers feel no need to go Formula One.
14:59So, you know, you've got that aspect of it, too.
15:01So, here again.
15:03But, you know, it's these youngsters.
15:07What are they born with?
15:09Do they have this desire to do Formula One?
15:12Or is it something that comes later and comes as a secondary wish?
15:17So that's what it probably really is.
15:20With me, for instance, being born and raised there,
15:25that was my early wish, my first wish.
15:28That's why it was so important to me.
15:30So that's the only way I can explain it.
15:32I think Indianapolis will be the right venue.
15:36Watkins Glam was a fantastic venue because it became traditional.
15:41It was there long enough that it was just an event.
15:45It was awaited every year.
15:48And that's why they had great attendance and so on and so forth.
15:53But, OK, after that, it was just a temporary circus
15:57that never really went anywhere.
15:59I mean, it was just too expensive to stage.
16:04So there was no organizer in this country
16:07that could make any financial sense out of having Formula One.
16:13And the only one that could probably deal with that
16:16would be Tony George at Indianapolis.
16:18And he created the infrastructure that I think will give Formula One
16:23stability for years to come in the United States.
16:26Well, he has to be the greatest racer driver America's ever had.
16:29The best all-rounder. He's won the Indy 500.
16:31He was the world champion in Formula One.
16:33And he came second in the Le Mans 24 Hours.
16:35Won the Daytona 500 as well.
16:37In fact, there was very little Mario didn't win in.
16:39Exactly. Well, that's when those days you had to be an all-rounder, of course.
16:41That's right.
16:42You're looking at the Ferrari garage as Michael Schumacher's car is prepared.
16:46Let's go there with Peter Windsor.
16:49Well, I'm at the back of the garage, as you say.
16:51This is Ferrari's private office.
16:53Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello will be coming out shortly
16:56to get into their cars for the race.
16:57They've been having a massage.
16:59Rubens particularly is fastidious about having a massage before the race.
17:02And this is quite a physically demanding circuit.
17:04They also eat before the race.
17:06They have pasta, things like that.
17:07A lot of carbohydrate buildup.
17:08And they need to be very, very calm before the race.
17:10So this is quite a difficult time for the drivers.
17:13Particularly for Ferrari drivers in America.
17:15Because there's enormous support for this team from the fans here across the nation.
17:20So, Rubens Barrichello, Michael Schumacher carrying a lot of Italian and Ferrari support on their shoulders.
17:27Thanks, Peter.
17:28And you see the grandstands filling up as the rain seems to have stopped.
17:31Still a bit cool.
17:3360 degrees here.
17:35Folks finding their way to their seats as we approach the start of the U.S. Grand Prix.
17:40Let's preview some more of the Formula 1 teams.
17:42Beginning with Williams.
17:46Williams BMW.
17:49Germany's Ralf Schumacher continues his climb to be the best of the next generation.
17:54His next goal is to place higher than his brother, Michael.
17:57Rookie sensation Jenson Button from Great Britain continues to thrill and surprise the F1 world.
18:03A win not far away.
18:07Minardi Ford.
18:08Spain's hero Marc Genet is in his second season and part of the new Spanish armada of drivers.
18:18Gaston Mazzacani, the rookie from Argentina, has surprised many with his flair and speed.
18:23Sauber Petronas.
18:25In his sixth season, the polished Brazilian Pedro Deniz continues to drive hard in his search for his first Formula 1 win.
18:35Mika Salo is the other driver from Finland.
18:38Close to a victory last year as Ferrari's super sub, Salo proved he can win with the best of them.
18:45A look at the Sauber garage as those cars are prepared for Mika Salo and Pedro Deniz.
18:53Our Mercedes-Benz pre-race for the U.S. Grand Prix continues after this.
18:59Nick, what's it going to be like in the wet here?
19:01I think it's going to be okay.
19:03Normally the first part of the circuit is a quick part.
19:05It dries very quickly, which is nice because it's quite dangerous otherwise with the wall.
19:09The rest is going to be very, very wet like this morning.
19:12And what's that bank curve going to be like in the wet?
19:14If it's really bad, it's going to be dangerous.
19:16But this morning it was easy flat.
19:18But when you say it's going to be dangerous, you mean the car could be sliding there if it's very wet?
19:22Yes, for sure.
19:24But as today, it's dry very quick.
19:26So I think everybody is a bit careful there in the beginning not to crash.
19:30Well, best of luck.
19:32Back to you, Mike.
19:34Pick Heidfeld will line up 16th today as a result of a one-hour qualifying session yesterday
19:38where cars have 12 laps in which to post their best possible time
19:42and earn a spot in the starting field.
19:45It was eventful.
19:47Let's have a look at yesterday's qualifying.
19:49If you missed qualifying yesterday,
19:51you missed a sensational first hour of real action at Indianapolis.
19:56Everybody was ready to get out.
19:58At the beginning of the session, there was impending rain.
20:00It was Mika Hakanen that gets out first.
20:02Historic moment at this Indianapolis motor racing speedway.
20:06Mika Hakanen, he had a clear bit of road and he set full time at this point.
20:11Was it going to last? We don't know.
20:13David Coulthard went out and he was trying very hard as well.
20:16He was doing exceptionally well, get second at that time as well.
20:19But Michael Schumacher, he sat in the pits and waited.
20:22Went out in a clear bit of road and he got pole position.
20:25Rubens Barrichello wanted to get up on the front with him.
20:28But we'll have to wait and see later just how he got on.
20:30Mika Hakanen, meanwhile, he's struggling to get up there with Michael Schumacher.
20:34Only manages second place.
20:36Ferrari trying to drag Michael Schumacher's time
20:39and get him a quicker time on the grid.
20:41Send Barrichello out to give him a tow.
20:43And this is exactly what happened.
20:45And Michael ended up pulling three tenths back.
20:47Jacques Villeneuve has been on fine form all weekend.
20:49But spun his chance away of getting on that front row of the grid.
20:52He was eighth.
20:5320-year-old sensation Jenson Button was in scintillating form.
20:57He was sixth.
20:58In the dying moments of the session, McLaren send out Mika Hakanen
21:02to give David Coulthard a tow to try and catapult him up
21:05to that coveted pole position.
21:07At this point here, we have Hakanen in front.
21:09Coulthard slipstreaming behind, dives out of his tow,
21:12down into turn one.
21:13See if he can get that magical pole position.
21:16No, as he comes round, he hasn't done it.
21:18He's in second place on the grid.
21:20Michael Schumacher's on pole.
21:24I guess we all feel very pleased about the way we're welcomed
21:27down here in the States.
21:29It's the first time we're here since ten years
21:31and I think we're all surprised about the reception we have got here.
21:36We had a number of spectators being here and supporting us
21:39and shouting for us.
21:40So it's great fun for us being here
21:42and hopefully we do a good show as well tomorrow.
21:46Qualifying, well, what an event that was.
21:48We saw slipstreaming, we saw drafting in Indianapolis.
21:51That's not unusual, but it's very unusual for the Formula 1 teams
21:54and Ferrari led the way.
21:56I'm here with Dan Gurney on the grid.
21:58Dan, ex-Ferrari driver.
21:59What was your impression of qualifying yesterday,
22:01the way those two, Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello,
22:04and another down the straight here?
22:06I was watching quite a bit
22:08and it looked like they had a little bit of engine on the others.
22:12I thought, and of course they teamed up
22:15and the home team did well.
22:17The home team, I like that.
22:18Well, it's going to be a great race, Dan.
22:20Great to see you too. Back to you.
22:22Finished second in the Indy 500, Dan Gurney.
22:24First American to win an F1 race in an American car,
22:27the Eagle, 1967 at Spa.
22:30Michael Schumacher's car at the ready
22:33for just a couple of moments.
22:34Cars will be on the track for their reconnaissance laps.
22:36Let's preview some more of the Formula 1 teams.
22:39Benetton Supertech.
22:41Giancarlo Fisichella from Italy has one career pole to his name.
22:45Another new star of a new generation of F1 drivers.
22:49Alexander Wurz from Austria is a former mountain bike champion
22:53and rock climber.
22:54Formula 1 is the pinnacle for Wurz.
22:59Jordan Mugenhande.
23:01Germany's Heinz-Harald Frentzen has three wins
23:03and two pole positions.
23:05With full Honda power next year,
23:07he hopes to move.
23:08Jarno Trulli is in his fourth Formula 1 season.
23:11This guy shines in qualifying
23:13and hopes one day to drive for his country's favorite team, Ferrari.
23:17Aero Supertech.
23:18Pedro de la Rosa, the elegant Spaniard,
23:21has already proved he can run with the big boys in the front.
23:27Jas Verstappen is a Dutch veteran
23:29in his sixth Formula 1 season
23:31and he had an impressive fourth place finish two weeks ago in Italy.
23:37Verstappen will lead the Aeros.
23:38He'll start 13th today.
23:40The course is open.
23:41Jarno Trulli comes up in line
23:44behind the BAR of Riccardo Zontan.
23:47These are just reconnaissance laps.
23:49What are they looking for here, Derek?
23:50Well, they only have 15 minutes, Mike,
23:52and in that time, they're not allowed to complete a total lap.
23:54They can come around back in the pit lane,
23:56adjust the car and go out,
23:57or else they can come around and just go on the grid
23:59and prepare themselves for the race.
24:01So it's a very important time
24:02under the conditions that we have today
24:04in the rain to do those final adjustments.
24:06Great to see Dan Gurney,
24:07just one of many racing legends
24:09we bumped into during a walk through the paddock yesterday.
24:11Oh, it's remarkable.
24:12There were IndyCar drivers,
24:14there were IRL drivers,
24:15sports car drivers and old drivers.
24:18All right, cars on course
24:20and you see the complex of turns
24:22one through seven.
24:24Turn seven leads on to
24:26what is the primary infield access road
24:28here at the speedway.
24:29In May and August,
24:30Holman Boulevard bisects the speedway
24:32north to south
24:33and the parking area is from the golf course,
24:35you see, on the left of the screen.
24:37And then they come into this
24:39diabolical double hairpin.
24:41Turn eight here, the left.
24:43And then it's 180 degrees
24:45first gear right and first gear left.
24:48And very, very slippery, Mike.
24:50There's water down there still
24:51and, of course, because of this new surface,
24:53the water will not go through it quite as well.
24:56There'll be lovely thick tar there
24:57to stop it going through
24:58and there's no rubber down either.
25:00So these guys are going to have to
25:01really play it carefully around there
25:03the first few laps.
25:04There's the display tent
25:05for the historic Formula One cars.
25:07Just out of frame in the lower right,
25:09the speedway museum
25:10and all the sights that are familiar
25:12to visitors here in May and August.
25:14But for one,
25:15these cars are traveling clockwise
25:17and just wait.
25:18In about 28 minutes,
25:20the shriek of 22 V10s
25:22that pulls on from a standing start.
25:24Standing start.
25:25Tape up your speakers and hang on.
25:27We will be right back to Indianapolis.
25:31...in the world
25:32to see racing from a new direction.
25:34Clockwise.
25:36As the most technologically advanced
25:38cars on the planet,
25:39the most expensive,
25:40the most computer-driven,
25:42Formula One
25:43comes to Indy's oval
25:44and its twisting new in-field road course.
25:49At every twist and turn,
25:50perils await the favorites.
25:52Like Canadian Jack Villeneuve,
25:54the 1995 Indy 500 champion
25:57is also the 97 World Formula One champion.
26:00Driving the Honda-powered
26:02British-American racing machine,
26:04can he be the first
26:05to win on Indy's oval
26:06and its road course?
26:08Michael Schumacher,
26:09double world champion,
26:10just two points out of this year's
26:12title lead.
26:14Arguably the best driver
26:15in the world.
26:16Can his red Ferrari
26:17vault to the top
26:18of the standings today?
26:20Mika Häkkinen,
26:21the Finnish driver,
26:22is also a two-time world titlist,
26:24trying to become
26:25the first driver
26:26since the 1950s
26:27to win three in a row.
26:29He drives the Silver Arrow
26:30for McLaren Mercedes.
26:32Can he hold his point lead?
26:34Just three races remain.
26:36Will today
26:37be the make-or-break race
26:39of the 2000 season?
26:41For 22 of the bravest racers
26:43from around the world,
26:44racing's past
26:45and its present
26:46meet now
26:47on the brickyard
26:48of Indianapolis.
26:51Welcome back
26:52to the Indianapolis motor speedway.
26:54Mike joy with Derek bell
26:55and Peter Windsor.
26:56History in the making.
26:57The first clockwise race
26:59in the history of Indianapolis.
27:01The first road course race.
27:02The first time
27:03the full formula one field
27:04has been here.
27:06A very low overcast
27:08and thick clouds
27:10over the speedway.
27:1180% chance of rain.
27:13That's good news, folks.
27:14It was 90%
27:15just half an hour ago.
27:16And the temperature
27:17has not climbed
27:18past the 60-degree mark.
27:19Let's go back
27:20to the pit lane.
27:21Former Ferrari
27:22general manager,
27:23Peter Windsor.
27:24Thanks, Mike.
27:25Of course, it may be good news
27:26for some drivers
27:27if it does rain.
27:28A lot of guys
27:29like Jenson Button
27:30love the rain.
27:31The clouds are moving
27:32fairly quickly here
27:33and the forecast says
27:34it's going to blow over.
27:35But who knows
27:36what's going to happen.
27:37The grid empty at the moment.
27:38The car is still
27:39waiting to form up.
27:40I've got to tell you,
27:41it is unbelievable here.
27:42It's just a canyon of people.
27:43If I look to my left,
27:44the crowd is so near
27:45the main straightaway.
27:46Nobody in Formula 1
27:47has ever seen
27:48anything like this.
27:49Normally the crowd
27:50is a good hundred yards
27:51at least from the starting grid.
27:52So it's just fantastic here.
27:53A lot of new sights
27:54for the Formula 1 competitors
27:55and a lot of new sights
27:56for Indianapolis fans.
27:57The championship
27:58is but three races
27:59from being decided.
28:00After today,
28:01just Japan and Malaysia,
28:02Mika Hakkinen
28:03has a two-point lead
28:04on Michael Schumacher
28:05in his attempt
28:06to three-peat
28:07as world champion.
28:08David Coulthard
28:09has a two-point lead
28:10on Michael Schumacher
28:11in his attempt
28:12to three-peat
28:13as world champion.
28:14David Coulthard
28:15still within striking distance
28:16but barely.
28:17Rubens Barrichello,
28:18Ralph Schumacher,
28:19Giancarlo Fisichello.
28:20And in the
28:21constructors' championship,
28:22well, we have Mercedes
28:23there,
28:24a little bit up in front,
28:25four points ahead of Ferrari,
28:26Williams 34,
28:27Benetton 20,
28:28Jordan 13,
28:29Bayer,
28:30Honda 13.
28:31And right behind them,
28:32we have,
28:33I know we have
28:34Cross somewhere back there
28:35and we have Jaguars
28:36with a point.
28:37Not very much happening
28:38out there, though.
28:39They're a long way behind.
28:40There's a view
28:41not often seen
28:42from a Formula 1 Ferrari.
28:43Man at work.
28:44Rubens Barrichello.
28:45What a fabulous shot
28:46that is down the front
28:47of his car.
28:48But, of course,
28:49remember,
28:50this is one of his
28:51exploratory laps.
28:52He's only taking it
28:53nice and gently
28:54feeling his way.
28:55Actually,
28:56a lot of it
28:57looks like he's
28:58on an afternoon drive,
28:59but I can assure you
29:00he isn't.
29:01He's not.
29:02He's not.
29:03He's not.
29:04He's not.
29:05He's not.
29:06He's not.
29:07He's not.
29:08He's not.
29:09He's not.
29:10He's not.
29:11He's not.
29:12He isn't.
29:13Well, that's the bug
29:14on the windshield's
29:15eye view
29:16of Rubens Barrichello.
29:17Let's have a further
29:18look at the Formula 1
29:19teams,
29:20beginning with
29:21Ferrari.
29:22Ferrari.
29:23Led by double
29:24world champion
29:25Michael Schumacher
29:26from Germany,
29:27Schumacher is focused
29:28on one thing,
29:29to give Ferrari
29:30their first driver's
29:31title since 1979.
29:32Rubens Barrichello
29:33is the Brazilian
29:34new driver
29:35of the year.
29:36He's a
29:37world champion
29:38in the Formula 1
29:39championship.
29:40Rubens Barrichello
29:41is the Brazilian
29:42team with Schumacher
29:43and he scored his
29:44first memorable
29:45and emotional win
29:46this year in Germany,
29:47Jaguar.
29:48The cat is back
29:49with Ireland's
29:50Eddie Irvine
29:51leading the team
29:52with his unique
29:53personality.
29:54But he's not happy
29:55with only four
29:56career victories.
29:57Britain's Johnny
29:58Herbert is in his
29:59final Formula 1
30:00season after 12 years
30:01and three wins.
30:02He wants to add
30:03to that total
30:04before departing.
30:05The Jaguar team,
30:06which Bobby Rahal
30:07will take over
30:08next year
30:09as CEO,
30:10prepares for battle
30:11here in Indianapolis.
30:12Indy Formula 1,
30:13Emerson Fittipaldi
30:14World Championships
30:15Indy wins.
30:16You drove
30:17a McLaren
30:18in Formula 1.
30:19How do you think
30:20your team's
30:21going to do today?
30:22Well, I think
30:23Mika has the best
30:24chance of winning.
30:25I talked to Mika
30:26a few hours ago.
30:27He's very
30:28enthusiastic.
30:29He's going to
30:30put a great show.
30:31It will be
30:32fantastic to see
30:33Indianapolis
30:34having Formula 1.
30:35Thank you very
30:36much, Emerson.
30:37We're going to
30:39enjoy it, too.
30:40Back to you, Mike.
30:41Fittipaldi,
30:42Indy 500
30:43and Indy car
30:44champion.
30:45As you see,
30:46the track is largely
30:47drying.
30:48But it is very
30:49wet coming out
30:50onto the oval,
30:51which is where we
30:52thought it would
30:53where the water would
30:54lie, where it runs
30:55down the banking
30:56onto the flat section
30:57of the bottom
30:58where they have to
30:59actually move across
31:00from the lower level
31:01up to the angle.
31:02And there's water
31:03lying there.
31:04I saw the car
31:05spray just now.
31:06And you see the
31:07infield is mostly flat.
31:08And in this area,
31:09look at the rooster tail
31:10being kicked up
31:11by the Ferrari.
31:12Now, these are
31:13reconnaissance laps,
31:14warm-up laps.
31:15They will end
31:16in approximately
31:17five minutes.
31:18The entire
31:19free-race hour
31:20very carefully
31:21controlled by
31:22Formula 1.
31:23And at that time,
31:24the cars must report
31:25to the starting grid.
31:26Ralph Schumacher
31:27going back out
31:28in his Williams BMW.
31:29As we watch
31:30the Formula 1 cars
31:31navigate Indy,
31:32the most expensive
31:33racing cars
31:34in the world
31:35start with a $300,000
31:36engine package
31:37and a $110,000
31:38chassis.
31:39And then we have
31:40just a few thousand
31:41there for
31:42pedal suspension
31:43extinguishers
31:44and front wing.
31:45How about
31:46$40,000
31:47worth of brakes
31:48and a $25,000
31:49steering wheel
31:50with lots of
31:51electronic controls?
31:52And how about
31:53a gearbox
31:54at $105,000?
31:55You can't even
31:56use it without
31:57you spend
31:58another $16,000
31:59on gear ratios.
32:00Ready to write
32:01the check?
32:02$810,000
32:03for the
32:04one Formula 1
32:05car.
32:06For that same
32:07price,
32:08you could buy
32:09the front row
32:10cars
32:11of this year's
32:12Indianapolis 500
32:13and you could buy
32:14the first seven
32:15that would finish
32:16in today's
32:17NASCAR race.
32:18Let's go back
32:19down to
32:20the pit lane.
32:21Peter Windsor.
32:22Thanks very much,
32:23Mike.
32:24Yes, we see now
32:25Jensen buttons
32:26just pulled up
32:27on the grid.
32:28The first thing
32:29they do is plug
32:30laptop computers.
32:31The reason for that
32:32is they want to
32:33know if they need
32:34to change
32:35before the race.
32:36During the race,
32:37Jensen can play
32:38with the brake balance
32:39and the fuel mixture.
32:40If they change
32:41the other functions,
32:42they can only do that
32:43during the pit stop.
32:44They want to give
32:45them the possibility
32:46to have a range
32:47of opportunity
32:48to change the
32:49handling of the car.
32:50Does it look
32:51the least bit
32:52like the BMW
32:53in my garage?
32:54Maybe the tire
32:55tread.
32:56Maybe.
32:57Let's compare
32:58these Formula 1
32:59cars
33:00to those
33:01that are
33:02here in the month
33:03of May.
33:04There are the
33:05differences.
33:06Top speed higher
33:07for the indy car,
33:08which only has
33:09to turn left
33:10and is flat out
33:11all the way around
33:12virtually,
33:13even though it has
33:14less horsepower,
33:15less cylinders.
33:16It's wider
33:17and runs slick tires,
33:18which give better
33:19adhesion.
33:20Let's meet
33:21the young man
33:22who has really
33:23grabbed the attention
33:24of Formula 1.
33:25Peter,
33:26has he met
33:27Britney Spears yet?
33:28I'm with
33:29Jensen buttons.
33:30He's been
33:31a sensation
33:32of qualifying.
33:33How do you
33:34like it so far?
33:35It's been good
33:36so far.
33:37This weather
33:38is quite interesting.
33:39It's a bit like
33:40the British weather.
33:41I'm looking forward
33:42to it.
33:43I think this race
33:44is going to be
33:45pretty spectacular
33:46for everyone
33:47that spectates us
33:48and also us.
33:49I'm looking forward
33:50to it.
33:51What do you
33:52think about
33:53the American fans?
33:54American fans
33:55have been great
33:56all weekend.
33:57Even with the
33:58weather today,
33:59we've got
34:00a lot of fans.
34:01It's going to be
34:02quite noisy,
34:03not just the cars
34:04but the crowd also.
34:05Everyone wants
34:06to know if you've
34:07yet met Britney Spears.
34:08No, I haven't.
34:09Definitely haven't.
34:10We'll see in the future.
34:11You never know.
34:12Thanks, Jensen.
34:13Good luck.
34:14We'll enjoy
34:15watching you today.
34:17There's a young
34:18man with an incredible
34:19future ahead of him.
34:20One young man
34:21that actually
34:22enjoys life to full.
34:23He is totally
34:24uninhibited in
34:25everything he does
34:26and that's why
34:27he's so quick.
34:28He will start
34:29his career as a
34:30Formula 1 racer.
34:31He has
34:32experienced Formula
34:331 drivers because
34:34none of them had
34:35seen this circuit
34:36before from behind
34:37the wheel of a
34:38Formula 1 car until
34:39two days ago.
34:4017 minutes to the
34:41start of the United
34:42States Grand Prix
34:43and the return of
34:44Formula 1 racing
34:45to Indy.
34:46You are watching
34:47Racing History in
34:48the Making on
34:49Fox Sportsnet.
34:50It's wet through
34:51the complex so I
34:52think on that
34:53basis it's going to
34:54be a difficult
34:55tire choice.
34:56Are the bricks
34:57across the track
34:58going to be
34:59good?
35:00I think it's
35:01going to be good.
35:02Before we get there
35:03it's still some
35:04damp places on the
35:05inside so obviously
35:06it would have been
35:07better to be on the
35:08outside.
35:09The crowd here,
35:10the American fans,
35:11they are very
35:12enthusiastic so it's
35:13nice to be here.
35:14Thanks very much
35:15David and good luck.
35:16Coulthard getting
35:17set to start from the
35:18outside of the front
35:19row alongside
35:20Ferrari's Michael
35:21Schumacher and it
35:22will be Coulthard's
35:23job to keep Schumacher
35:24from taking the world
35:25championship point lead
35:26today from Coulthard's
35:27position.
35:28I think David is
35:29still in a chance
35:30there.
35:31If Hakan had an
35:32accident or something
35:33that befell him today
35:34David is still in with
35:35a chance of winning
35:36the championship.
35:37It's an outside chance
35:38but it could happen.
35:39He's got to drive his
35:40best.
35:41He's not going to give
35:42Hakan any road.
35:43No team orders at
35:44McLaren.
35:45David is free to run
35:46his own race.
35:47If he can win it, he
35:48can win it.
35:4915 minutes until the
35:50start of the U.S.
35:51Grand Prix.
35:52This is such a very
35:53tense moment as a
35:54driver.
35:55All you want to do is
35:56sit there and wait
35:57while everybody is
35:58asking dumb questions
35:59but you don't want to
36:00answer them.
36:01A United States
36:02sporting event tradition
36:03is somewhat foreign to
36:04formula 1 where the
36:05winner's anthem is
36:06played at the end of
36:07the race and will be
36:08today.
36:09But here we will salute
36:10the United States of
36:11America with the singing
36:12of our national anthem
36:13by Aaron Neville.
36:14Oh, say can you see
36:15by the dawn's early
36:16light.
36:17What so proudly
36:18we hailed
36:19at the twilight's
36:20last gleaming.
36:21Whose broad stripes
36:22and bright stars
36:23through the perilous
36:24fight.
36:25O'er the ramparts
36:26we watched
36:27were so gallantly
36:28streaming.
36:29And the rocket's
36:30red glare,
36:31the bombs bursting
36:32in air,
36:33gave proof through
36:34the night
36:35that our flag
36:36was still there.
36:37Oh, say can you see
36:38by the dawn's early
36:39light.
36:40What so proudly
36:41we hailed
36:42at the twilight's
36:43last gleaming.
36:44Whose broad stripes
36:45and bright stars
36:46through the perilous
36:47fight.
36:48Oh, the ramparts
36:49we watched
36:50were so gallantly
36:51streaming.
36:52And the rocket's
36:53red glare,
36:54the bombs bursting
36:55in air,
36:56gave proof through
36:57the night
36:58that our flag
36:59was still there.
37:00Oh, say does that
37:01star-spangled
37:02banner yet wave
37:03o'er the land
37:04of the free
37:05and the home
37:06of the brave.
37:07Oh, say does that
37:08star-spangled
37:09banner yet wave
37:10o'er the land
37:11of the free
37:12and the home
37:13of the brave.
37:14Oh, say does that
37:15star-spangled
37:16banner yet wave
37:17o'er the land
37:18of the free
37:19and the home
37:20of the brave.
37:21Oh, say does that
37:22star-spangled
37:23banner yet wave
37:24o'er the land
37:25of the free
37:26and the home
37:27of the brave.
37:28What a crowd.
37:29Here for the return
37:30of Formula One
37:31to the United States.
37:32Military jet
37:33flyover.
37:34And let's go
37:35to Peter.
37:36Spectacular
37:37displays.
37:38I'm with
37:39David Letterman.
37:40David,
37:41you're going
37:42to tell us
37:43a little bit
37:44about the
37:45show.
37:46I'm going
37:47to tell you
37:48a little bit
37:49about the
37:50show.
37:51I'm going
37:52to tell you
37:53a little bit
37:54about the
37:55show.
37:56I'm going
37:57to tell you
37:58a little bit
37:59about the
38:00show.
38:01I'm going
38:02to tell you
38:03a little bit
38:04about the
38:05show.
38:06I'm going
38:07to tell you
38:08a little bit
38:09about the
38:10show.
38:11I'm going
38:12to tell you
38:13a little bit
38:14about the
38:15show.
38:16I'm going
38:17to tell you
38:18a little bit
38:19about the
38:20show.
38:21I'm going
38:22to tell you
38:23a little bit
38:24about the
38:25show.
38:26I'm going
38:27to tell you
38:28a little bit
38:29about the
38:30show.
38:31I'm going
38:32to tell you
38:33a little bit
38:34about the
38:35show.
38:36I'm going
38:37to tell you
38:38a little bit
38:39about the
38:40show.
38:41I'm going
38:42to tell you
38:43a little bit
38:44about the
38:45show.
38:46I'm going
38:47to tell you
38:48a little bit
38:49about the
38:50show.
38:51I'm going
38:52to tell you
38:53a little bit
38:54about the
38:55show.
38:56I'm going
38:57to tell you
38:58a little bit
38:59about the
39:00show.
39:01I'm going
39:02to tell you
39:03a little bit
39:04about the
39:05show.
39:06I'm going
39:07to tell you
39:08a little bit
39:09about the
39:10show.
39:11I'm going
39:12to tell you
39:13a little bit
39:14about the
39:15show.
39:16I'm going
39:17to tell you
39:18a little bit
39:19about the
39:20show.
39:21I'm going
39:22to tell you
39:23a little bit
39:24about the
39:25show.
39:26I'm going
39:27to tell you
39:28a little bit
39:29about the
39:30show.
39:31I'm going
39:32to tell you
39:33a little bit
39:34about the
39:35show.
39:36I'm going
39:37to tell you
39:38a little bit
39:39about the
39:40show.
39:41I'm going
39:42to tell
39:43you a little
39:44bit
39:45about the
39:46show.
39:47I'm going
39:48to tell you
39:49a little bit
39:50about the
39:51show.
39:52I'm going
39:53to tell you
39:54a little bit
39:55about the
39:56show.
39:57I'm going
39:58to tell you
39:59a little bit
40:00about the
40:01show.
40:02I'm going
40:03to tell you
40:04a little bit
40:05about the
40:06show.
40:07I'm going
40:08to tell
40:09you a little
40:10bit
40:11about the
40:12show.
40:13I'm going
40:14to tell
40:15you a little
40:16bit
40:17about the
40:18show.
40:19I'm going
40:20to tell
40:21you a little
40:22bit
40:23about the
40:24show.
40:25I'm going
40:26to tell
40:27you a little
40:28bit
40:29about the
40:30show.
40:31I'm going
40:32to tell
40:33you a little
40:34bit
40:35about the
40:36show.
40:37I'm going
40:38to tell
40:39you a little
40:40bit
40:41about the
40:42show.
40:43I'm going
40:44to tell
40:45you a little
40:46bit
40:47about the
40:48show.
40:49I'm going
40:50to tell
40:51you a little
40:52bit
40:53about the
40:54show.
40:55I'm going
40:56to tell
40:57you a little
40:58bit
40:59about the
41:00show.
41:01I'm going
41:02to tell
41:03you a little
41:04bit
41:05about the
41:06show.
41:07I'm going
41:08to tell
41:09you a little
41:10bit
41:11about the
41:12show.
41:13I'm going
41:14to tell
41:15you a
41:16little
41:17bit
41:18about the
41:19show.
41:20I'm going
41:21to tell
41:22you a
41:23little
41:24bit
41:25about the
41:26show.
41:27I'm going
41:28to tell
41:29you a
41:30little
41:31bit
41:32about the
41:33show.
41:34I'm going
41:35to tell
41:36you a
41:37little
41:38bit
41:39about the
41:40show.
41:41I'm going
41:42to tell
41:43you a
41:44little
41:45bit
41:46about the
41:47show.
41:48I'm going
41:49to tell
41:50you a
41:51little
41:52bit
41:53about the
41:54show.
41:55I'm going
41:56to tell
41:57you a
41:58little
41:59bit
42:00about the
42:01show.
42:02I'm going
42:03to tell
42:04you a
42:05little
42:06bit
42:07about the
42:08show.
42:09I'm going
42:10to tell
42:11you a
42:12little
42:13bit
42:14about the
42:15show.
42:16I'm going
42:17to tell
42:18you a
42:19little
42:20bit
42:21about the
42:22show.
42:23I'm going
42:24to tell
42:25you a
42:26little
42:27bit
42:28about the
42:29show.
42:30I'm going
42:31to tell
42:32you a
42:33little
42:34bit
42:35about the
42:36show.
42:37I'm going
42:38to tell
42:39you a
42:40little
42:41bit
42:42about the
42:43show.
42:44I'm
42:45going
42:46to tell
42:47you a
42:48little
42:49bit
42:50about the
42:51show.
42:52I'm
42:53going
42:54to tell
42:55you a
42:56little
42:57bit
42:58about the
42:59show.
43:00I'm
43:01going
43:02to tell
43:03you a
43:04little
43:05bit
43:06about the
43:07show.
43:08I'm
43:09going
43:10to tell
43:11you a
43:12little
43:13bit
43:14about the
43:15show.
43:16I'm
43:17going
43:18to tell
43:19you a
43:20little
43:21bit
43:22about the
43:23show.
43:24I'm
43:25going
43:26to tell
43:27you a
43:28little
43:29bit
43:30about the
43:31show.
43:32I'm
43:33going
43:34to tell
43:35you a
43:36little
43:37bit
43:38about the
43:39show.