2000 United States GP Qualifying

OSRN 1

Qualifying for Round 15 of the 2000 F1 season at Indianapolis.

Transcript

00:00:00Welcome to rush hour at the Indianapolis motor speedway.

00:00:12There was a huge traffic jam seconds ago at the exit of pit lane as most of the 22 formula

00:00:18one cars here at indy for the first time sought to be the first on to the track to post a

00:00:23lap in this one-hour qualifying session.

00:00:27Mike villeneuve was lined up at the head of the line, mika hakkinen cut in much like

00:00:31the line at the toll booth was the first driver out on to this 13-turn course encompassing

00:00:371.2 miles of Indianapolis oval and this new road course at the infield that you see.

00:00:45Welcome everyone.

00:00:46Mike joy with erik bell and peter windsor to bring you coverage of this historic event

00:00:51to see who will sit on the front row of the first ever full field formula one race at

00:00:56the Indianapolis motor speedway and the first fia formula one world championship race in

00:01:01the united states in nine years.

00:01:04You're looking at turns nine and ten, the double hairpin.

00:01:07There's the speedway museum at the top of the shot and then they'll come on to the oval.

00:01:11The main thing we're worried about here, mike, is it's possibly going to rain.

00:01:14That's why all these guys are out there trying to get something in the bag and they can come

00:01:18in and wait until later in the session so maybe there's a bit more rubber down.

00:01:21The one thing they don't want to afford is the rain.

00:01:24This is a one-hour time session.

00:01:26You see the clock up or left.

00:01:27That will show you minutes and seconds remaining.

00:01:28Each driver is allowed a total of 12 laps on the course during this hour, no more.

00:01:29And that includes their out lap and their in lap.

00:01:30So this is mika hakanen, the reigning world champion, trying to become the first driver

00:01:44since the mid 50s to win three consecutive world titles.

00:01:48And he holds a narrow two-point margin over ferrari's michael schumacher.

00:01:52As we come to this, the 15th of 17 races in this world championship.

00:01:56Well, with rain on the horizon, let's check with peter windsor in the pit lane on team

00:02:04strategy for this one hour.

00:02:06Mike, very simple.

00:02:07As you said, rush hour.

00:02:08And ron dennis' last second instructions to his two drivers were get out there the minute

00:02:13the pit lane is open and find your own gap on the track.

00:02:14The problem at the moment is traffic getting a free lap.

00:02:15All those cars are out there.

00:02:16And mika hakanen and david kuhltar did exactly that.

00:02:17And they're at the front of the queue, if you like.

00:02:18They're at the front right now.

00:02:19Out on the circuit right now.

00:02:20The weather today, well, very, very humid.

00:02:21There is quite a chance of rain and very dark clouds off to the west.

00:02:22So sometime in this hour, we could see rain.

00:02:23That would not stop the session.

00:02:24But it would put the cars on to rain tires and they would not be able to keep up.

00:02:25And they would not be able to keep up.

00:02:26And they would not be able to keep up.

00:02:27And they would not be able to keep up.

00:02:28And they would not be able to keep up.

00:02:29And they would not be able to keep up.

00:02:30And they would not be able to keep up.

00:02:31And they would not be able to keep up.

00:02:32David kuhltar, one minute, 15.1 seconds.

00:02:33Sets the pace.

00:02:34Mika hakanen.

00:02:35And the arrows of pedro de la rosa right now is fourth.

00:02:36He's been doing a great job.

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00:07:19And he's coming up to about 195 miles an hour as he hits the straightaway.

00:07:23And he's going to be pulling about 205 by the time he gets to the end of it as he crosses the line.

00:07:27Let's see what time he's done.

00:07:28Pole position by nearly two-tenths of a second.

00:07:31It's sort of what we expected from Michael Schumacher, but it's not over yet.

00:07:35There's a lot more in hand from Mika Hakkinen, I'm sure.

00:07:38So Schumacher on his first flying lap is quickest.

00:07:42And a few sprinkles on the lens of some of those cameras.

00:07:4636 of them around the circuit to bring you the images of Formula 1.

00:07:53He's only fractionally slower by 4.100, so he may be taking two flying laps here.

00:07:58Peter?

00:07:59Well, yeah, Mike.

00:08:00Now everybody's done their runs.

00:08:01That was really just in case it was going to rain early on.

00:08:03Now they're going to sit back and probably wait a little bit, see what the weather does,

00:08:07and you may not see too much action on the track now for about 15 to 20 minutes or so.

00:08:11But Michael Schumacher went out, empty track, and got the pole.

00:08:14Great performance.

00:08:17Now, Schumacher will have been told by radio that he's 4.100 off of his first sector time,

00:08:23and he pretty much maintains that.

00:08:26And it'll be up to the team whether to let him complete this lap in hopes of being faster

00:08:30or bring him into the pits this time.

00:08:32Over 40 would come in because he did the same thing at Monza, the two Grand Prixs,

00:08:36one Grand Prix go two weeks ago, and he came in and actually had to do two laps in a row,

00:08:41which completely threw the rhythm for that session.

00:08:43Down to 60 kilometers, 36 miles an hour in the pit lane.

00:08:47That must seem very slow, Mike, when you've been doing 220 just before.

00:08:51Having said the 220, they're actually going slower in the straight today

00:08:55since they've been opting for a slightly higher downforce setup on the car,

00:08:59which means, of course, they're creating more drag in the straight,

00:09:01but helps them round the other 1.4 miles of the infield.

00:09:05A little left tire lock up there on Jack Villeneuve's BAR, British American Racing.

00:09:11Jacky actually in fine form this weekend, but strangely enough,

00:09:15I'm surprised that the Honda hasn't been quite as fast in a straight line as I anticipated.

00:09:20Villeneuve is the only driver to compete presently in Formula 1

00:09:23who has an Indianapolis 500 victory, that coming in 1995.

00:09:31And as you see, his best finish this year, fourth.

00:09:35Not a great year for the former world champion, but BAR is a relatively new team,

00:09:39and is still in the building stage, down toward the McLaren garage.

00:09:43Here's Peter.

00:09:44Yeah, Ron Dennis has just said to Mick Hackett, we must get out now,

00:09:47and there is a very, very fine sprinkling of brain beginning to fall in the pit lane.

00:09:51So Mick Hackett is out there now on his second run.

00:09:56So qualifying is underway for the United States Grand Prix.

00:09:59Presently, Michael Schumacher is fastest, Mick Hackett and Rubens Barrichello,

00:10:02and David Coulthard.

00:10:04You're watching Formula 1 qualifying on Fox Sportsnet.

00:10:10This one-yard wide strip of paving bricks is the most famous piece of pavement in the world.

00:10:17Since 1909, drivers have challenged the brickyard at Indianapolis

00:10:22in search of ever-increasing speeds and ever-greater glory.

00:10:29Decades of drivers have written their way into Indy history.

00:10:33And in the last decade, the pavement sustained a pounding of NASCAR stock cars,

00:10:38bringing a new breed of driver and new names to the forefront.

00:10:43Now, these bricks will be challenged from the opposite direction

00:10:46as double world champions Michael Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen

00:10:49plus Ralph Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve

00:10:52lead the Formula 1 circus back to the United States for the first time in nine years.

00:10:58Not just on the oval, but also on the brand-new infield road course.

00:11:03Today, which Formula 1 driver will write their way into Indy history

00:11:07and be the fastest qualifier for Formula 1?

00:11:12Welcome back to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

00:11:14Mike Joy with Derek Bell and Peter Windsor.

00:11:16We are 14 minutes into this qualifying session.

00:11:21And presently, Michael Schumacher from Ferrari has the fastest lap, 1 minute, 14.492 seconds.

00:11:27And all of the 22 drivers have posted a time within 7% of that

00:11:32and would be eligible to start the race tomorrow.

00:11:35There is rain, not just in the forecast, but in several areas of the course.

00:11:40A little bit of a light sprinkle.

00:11:42Well, it hasn't made much difference to the times yet.

00:11:44They're only fractions off Michael's time, so it isn't settling on the ground

00:11:47because, as we mentioned earlier, it's 80 degrees out there

00:11:50and it's not going to lie too hard, but it must have been coming into turn 13

00:11:54as you turn into banking at 190 miles an hour.

00:11:56It must make you wonder whether there's maybe been a little bit more rain

00:11:58than you've imagined as you go in there.

00:12:00So, it's going to be pretty difficult for them.

00:12:02They've got to really assess what's happening out there with the weather

00:12:05and get on and do the job.

00:12:07Very warm, very muggy.

00:12:09This qualifying session is one hour.

00:12:11Each driver is allowed a total of 12 laps, no more.

00:12:14They can change tires as often as they wish, but they must run the same compound tire.

00:12:19They have a choice of two, but they must have already elected their tire compound.

00:12:23There is at least one spare car per team, which can be used if needed.

00:12:28Let's join Peter Windsor near McLaren.

00:12:30Well, at McLaren, they put more front wing on David Coulthard's car

00:12:33and he's out there now hoping to get a little bit more grip at the front end,

00:12:36but the weather very much a question mark.

00:12:38Most of the team's information is that it's going to rain hard at 2 o'clock,

00:12:42but will they take the risk to run right up until 2 like that?

00:12:45Michael Schumacher has just gone out on course.

00:12:47Here's Jarno Trulli, who is 7th fastest.

00:12:50Yeah, well, they actually changed Michael Schumacher's rear wing

00:12:52while he was in the lock-up then, so he's gone out with quite a different setup on the car.

00:12:57Schumacher is quickest.

00:13:00Qualifying here at Indy in May has traditionally taken place over the course of a couple of weekends.

00:13:06Even when NASCAR comes here in August, qualifying takes place over a span of two days.

00:13:11Here, it's one hour to set the field.

00:13:18Benetton and Jordan coming in to the pit lane,

00:13:21and at the bottom of the screen, you see the times thus far.

00:13:25There's Schumacher out on course on his out lap.

00:13:28That is his lap out of the pits.

00:13:30His next lap will be the flyer and the lap in which he hopes to go even quicker than a minute 14.492 seconds.

00:13:39And when he's finished these few laps, he'll in fact have already done six,

00:13:42which is half the allotted laps he's allowed to do.

00:13:44So he's only actually got this lap coming up and two more chances at going a quicker lap than he was.

00:13:50Must mention again, Jenson Button right up there,

00:13:53eclipsing Ralph Schumacher, who's way down in 14th place at the moment.

00:13:56Right now, the Ferraris are atop the board.

00:13:58The McLarens are third and fourth.

00:14:01Peter?

00:14:02Thanks, Mike.

00:14:03Yeah, well, David Coulthard's come in complaining of a misfire.

00:14:05They've taken the back off the car.

00:14:06They're looking at it.

00:14:07They hope to cure it, obviously.

00:14:08But misfire for David Coulthard.

00:14:09His problems continue.

00:14:11Yesterday morning, electrical problems kept him from posting even one fast lap in the morning hour of practice.

00:14:17He quickly went out and posted one of the top times, top time, in the afternoon.

00:14:22But today, he's down there in fourth place.

00:14:25Rubens Barrichello just been through the traps on the straight at 205 miles an hour.

00:14:29Yesterday, the Arrows were actually going 219 miles an hour.

00:14:33Very, very fast indeed.

00:14:34But of course, they're not getting the downforce on the infield.

00:14:37That's what they need.

00:14:39Hard to find a balance between low drag,

00:14:42for the part of this course that's out on the speedway,

00:14:45and high downforce for the twisting turns and hairpins.

00:14:49This 9-10 hairpin complex, first gear, there in the infield.

00:14:57And Schumacher is quicker.

00:14:59He's lowered his standard by 16 hundredths of a second.

00:15:02But of course, it doesn't count until he comes to the finish line.

00:15:07Turn one of the speedway is turn 13 of this Formula One course.

00:15:10195 miles an hour as he comes around.

00:15:12It's going to be quicker than he did before.

00:15:14Over the line at just about 200.

00:15:1617 thousand revs.

00:15:18He didn't make it.

00:15:19He was fractionally slower in that last segment, Mike.

00:15:21It must be maybe a little damp out there.

00:15:23A little slower exiting the infield section.

00:15:26And he's 8 one thousandths slower.

00:15:28But his first two segments were the quickest.

00:15:31And those segment lines appear from the start-finish line.

00:15:35There's the first segment.

00:15:36There's the second segment.

00:15:37And the third segment sweeps us around, back to start-finish.

00:15:41Now this is the area that's the most interesting part of this circuit.

00:15:43Because they're arriving here actually at 200 odd miles an hour.

00:15:46They're going to brake and slow right down.

00:15:48And then they work their way through the infield.

00:15:50This very, very twisty bit here we call Mickey and Mouse.

00:15:52Very, very slippery indeed.

00:15:54And very twisty.

00:15:55And then this corner here, turn 11.

00:15:57The most vital corner.

00:15:58It leads them all the way onto that straight.

00:16:02So for the first time, racing cars attack the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

00:16:06Coming up the front straightaway from south to north.

00:16:10One of the Jaguars, Johnny Herbert, moving out onto the course.

00:16:13And otherwise, it's fairly silent.

00:16:14Because everyone has gone out and run at least half of their allotted laps.

00:16:19Six laps for the Ferraris.

00:16:20Seven for the McLarens.

00:16:23And everyone has done at least five laps.

00:16:25Only Jarno Trulli has five on the board.

00:16:27Everyone else has done between six and eight.

00:16:29Which means they've actually done two timed laps.

00:16:32In fact, we were just talking to Jean Alesi in the paddock.

00:16:35And he's having such a miserable time down there in the Prost car.

00:16:38But remember that Prost have in fact got Ferrari engines for next year.

00:16:42So that should be something special for them.

00:16:44They certainly elevate them.

00:16:45Derek, they'll have this year's Ferrari engines at their disposal.

00:16:48They'll rebadge them with a sponsor name yet to be determined.

00:16:53Eddie Irvine pulls onto the pit lane.

00:16:56As qualifying continues, Michael Schumacher on Ferrari is thus far fastest.

00:17:06Only once has a driver won the Indy 500 and Formula 1 championship in the same year.

00:17:10Jim Clark, 1965.

00:17:12You're looking at turn one of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

00:17:17And those necks are creamed from right to left there for the very first time.

00:17:21As Formula 1 comes to the brickyard.

00:17:26Dampness in some of the corners.

00:17:28Ferraris have run six timed laps.

00:17:31Seven for the McLarens.

00:17:32Six for the Williams.

00:17:34Six for the Jordans.

00:17:35And no change in the running order at this moment.

00:17:38Let's go down to the pits of the defending world champion.

00:17:40Here's Peter.

00:17:41Thank you very much, Mike.

00:17:42Yes, Mika Häkkinen now contemplating running just new tires on the rear.

00:17:46As Derek said at the start of the show.

00:17:47Maybe he was listening in, Derek.

00:17:49That's because he's very happy with the front end.

00:17:51And he actually joked and said the front end of the car here is as good as it was in Hungary.

00:17:55And we all remember what happened there.

00:17:58What a dominating performance there.

00:18:00Yes, there was quite a bit of thought as to whether scuffed tires or new sticker tires would prevail.

00:18:06And that some drivers would try scuffs on the front, stickers on the rear.

00:18:09To try to combat the understeer that is so prevalent on a brand-new racing circuit.

00:18:14The track is very green.

00:18:15It's never been raced on.

00:18:16It's had only four hours of practice.

00:18:19And some Porsche Super Cup and Ferrari Challenge practice this weekend.

00:18:23That's all that this infield circuit has ever seen race cars.

00:18:27Exactly.

00:18:28They're also running slightly higher tire temperature here.

00:18:30Tire pressures, as I say, on the outside.

00:18:32The right, the left side of the car to help them around that banking.

00:18:35And the drivers say the car handles remarkably well around the rest of the track.

00:18:38Considering they have the higher pressures on that one side.

00:18:42Mika Salo, presently 12th.

00:18:45Just on the first segment is faster than he has gone before.

00:18:50Remember that he is running the Ferrari engine.

00:18:53The Petronas badged engine.

00:18:54But it's in fact last year's Ferrari Formula 1 engine.

00:18:57In the same manner that they will run the 2000 engine.

00:18:59Next year, as of course I mentioned, will be Prost.

00:19:02Eddie Irvine comes back out for Jaguar.

00:19:04And Peter's made his way to the Williams garage.

00:19:06That's right.

00:19:07Ralf Schumacher not very happy.

00:19:08But he says it's all his own fault at the moment.

00:19:10He hasn't got in two good laps.

00:19:11The car's bottoming a bit.

00:19:13And he needs to raise it to get over that problem.

00:19:16But Ralf dissatisfied.

00:19:17But he says there's a lot more to come.

00:19:19The lads yesterday actually were touching the bricks.

00:19:21As they went over the bricks.

00:19:23The little bit of movement in depth there actually made them touch the ground.

00:19:27So they've had to raise the ride height just a little bit.

00:19:32I must say, Mike, from a driver's point of view, we've talked to quite a few drivers.

00:19:35They do enjoy this circuit.

00:19:37But they're expecting much more of a challenge through the last turn.

00:19:40Through 13, through the oval.

00:19:41I think they want to experience something of what the IndyCar drivers experience.

00:19:45The car really moving around and getting out of shape.

00:19:47And they're disappointed in that.

00:19:49Well, of course, they're accelerating out of the infield.

00:19:51So they are some 40 to 50 miles an hour slower at that point than the IndyCars going in the opposite direction.

00:19:58But no one has complained of a lack of grip coming around through turn one.

00:20:02Oh, no.

00:20:03They haven't had that at all.

00:20:04They just flapped the floor the whole way.

00:20:05But they did say it's a little intimidating to start with, all these walls.

00:20:08I'll bet.

00:20:09When they exit turn 12, it is 22 seconds of sustained flat-out acceleration for these Formula 1 cars.

00:20:17And that's more than anywhere they race in the world.

00:20:22Pedro Diniz, the Sauber driver.

00:20:26You see him fight for a little bit of front-end grip there in the turn 9 and 10 hairpin complex.

00:20:32Right behind the Speedway Museum in the infield.

00:20:36And here's the corner Derek Cole's the most critical.

00:20:38As you see, the average speed here at Indianapolis is right up there among the top four in the world.

00:20:45And here they are going around the oval.

00:20:47Round turn 13.

00:20:49Would be a different picture altogether if it happened to be wet.

00:20:52But fortunately, it's dry for today.

00:20:54But these guys are out there trying to make the most of it.

00:20:58Diniz moves up to tenth with his best lap of the day and his fastest first and third sector of the afternoon.

00:21:05The car really seems to take a hop as they get into the middle of that braking area.

00:21:08Remember, they're braking from over 200 miles an hour.

00:21:11And to break down to the 40 or 50 miles an hour, they're putting something like four and a half G.

00:21:16And they do that braking from that incredible speed of 200 to 40 in just about three seconds.

00:21:21It's absolutely phenomenal, the deceleration.

00:21:23And they have a job to get down from seventh to second gear.

00:21:28Eddie Irvine, second in last year's world championship.

00:21:30Let's ride with him.

00:21:36Turn 9 to 10.

00:21:42This is the all-important car that might take you out onto the straight.

00:21:50Flat out from here.

00:22:0517 and a half thousand revs.

00:22:07Just hear that motor go.

00:22:10Oh, he's lost it.

00:22:11He's lost it as he went through there.

00:22:13He got a bit of opposite lock on.

00:22:14Got out on the new part of the circuit that hasn't been run on too much.

00:22:18There he is.

00:22:19Remember, of course, he's got to get the butt right, get him to press the clutch on the paddle on the wheel

00:22:24and then get into gear again.

00:22:25Off he goes.

00:22:26And he's got it.

00:22:27He's got it.

00:22:28He's got it.

00:22:29He's got it.

00:22:30He's got it.

00:22:31He's got it.

00:22:32He's got it.

00:22:33He's got it.

00:22:34He's got it.

00:22:35He's got it.

00:22:36He's got it.

00:22:37He's got it.

00:22:38He's got it.

00:22:39He's got it.

00:22:40He's got it.

00:22:41He's got it.

00:22:42He's got it.

00:22:43He's got it.

00:22:44He's got it.

00:22:45He's got it.

00:22:46He's got it.

00:22:47He's got it.

00:22:48He's got it.

00:22:49He's got it.

00:22:50He's got it.

00:22:51He's got it.

00:22:52He's got it.

00:22:53He's got it.

00:22:54He's got it.

00:22:55He's got it.

00:22:56He's got it.

00:22:57He's got it.

00:22:58He's got it.

00:22:59He's got it.

00:23:00He's got it.

00:23:01He's got it.

00:23:02He's got it.

00:23:03He's got it.

00:23:04He's got it.

00:23:05He's got it.

00:23:06He's got it.

00:23:07He's got it.

00:23:08He's got it.

00:23:09He's got it.

00:23:10He's got it.

00:23:11He's got it.

00:23:12He's got it.

00:23:13He's got it.

00:23:14He's got it.

00:23:15He's got it.

00:23:16He's got it.

00:23:17He's got it.

00:23:18He's got it.

00:23:19He's got it.

00:23:20He's got it.

00:23:21He's got it.

00:23:22He's got it.

00:23:23He's got it.

00:23:24He's got it.

00:23:25He's got it.

00:23:26He's got it.

00:23:27He's got it.

00:23:28He's got it.

00:23:29He's got it.

00:23:30He's got it.

00:23:31He's got it.

00:23:32He's got it.

00:23:33He's got it.

00:23:34He's got it.

00:23:35He's got it.

00:23:36He's got it.

00:23:37He's got it.

00:23:38He's got it.

00:23:39He's got it.

00:23:40He's got it.

00:23:41He's got it.

00:23:42He's got it.

00:23:43He's got it.

00:23:44He's got it.

00:23:45He's got it.

00:23:46He's got it.

00:23:47He's got it.

00:23:48He's got it.

00:23:49He's got it.

00:23:50He's got it.

00:23:51He's got it.

00:23:52He's got it.

00:23:53He's got it.

00:23:54He's got it.

00:23:55He's got it.

00:23:56He's got it.

00:23:57He's got it.

00:23:58He's got it.

00:23:59He's got it.

00:24:00He's got it.

00:24:01He's got it.

00:24:02He's got it.

00:24:03He's got it.

00:24:04He's got it.

00:24:05He's got it.

00:24:06He's got it.

00:24:07He's got it.

00:24:08He's got it.

00:24:09He's got it.

00:24:10He's got it.

00:24:11He's got it.

00:24:12He's got it.

00:24:13He's got it.

00:24:14He's got it.

00:24:15He's got it.

00:24:16He's got it.

00:24:17He's got it.

00:24:18He's got it.

00:24:19He's got it.

00:24:20He's got it.

00:24:21He's got it.

00:24:22He's got it.

00:24:23He's got it.

00:24:24He's got it.

00:24:25He's got it.

00:24:26He's got it.

00:24:27He's got it.

00:24:28He's got it.

00:24:29He's got it.

00:24:30He's got it.

00:24:31He's got it.

00:24:32He's got it.

00:24:33He's got it.

00:24:34He's got it.

00:24:35He's got it.

00:24:36He's got it.

00:24:37He's got it.

00:24:38He's got it.

00:24:39He's got it.

00:24:40He's got it.

00:24:41He's got it.

00:24:42He's got it.

00:24:43He's got it.

00:24:44He's got it.

00:24:45He's got it.

00:24:46He's got it.

00:24:47He's got it.

00:24:48He's got it.

00:24:49He's got it.

00:24:50He's got it.

00:24:51He's got it.

00:24:52He's got it.

00:24:53He's got it.

00:24:54He's got it.

00:24:55He's got it.

00:24:56He's got it.

00:24:57He's got it.

00:24:58He's got it.

00:24:59He's got it.

00:25:00He's got it.

00:25:01He's got it.

00:25:02He's got it.

00:25:03He's got it.

00:25:04He's got it.

00:25:05He's got it.

00:25:06He's got it.

00:25:07He's got it.

00:25:08He's got it.

00:25:09He's got it.

00:25:10He's got it.

00:25:11He's got it.

00:25:12He's got it.

00:25:13He's got it.

00:25:14He's got it.

00:25:15He's got it.

00:25:16He's got it.

00:25:17He's got it.

00:25:18He's got it.

00:25:19He's got it.

00:25:20He's got it.

00:25:21He's got it.

00:25:22He's got it.

00:25:23He's got it.

00:25:24He's got it.

00:25:25He's got it.

00:25:26He's got it.

00:25:27He's got it.

00:25:28He's got it.

00:25:29He's got it.

00:25:30He's got it.

00:25:31He's got it.

00:25:32He's got it.

00:25:33He's got it.

00:25:34He's got it.

00:25:35He's got it.

00:25:36He's got it.

00:25:37He's got it.

00:25:38He's got it.

00:25:39He's got it.

00:25:40He's got it.

00:25:41He's got it.

00:25:42He's got it.

00:25:43He's got it.

00:25:44He's got it.

00:25:45He's got it.

00:25:46He's got it.

00:25:47He's got it.

00:25:48He's got it.

00:25:49He's got it.

00:25:50He's got it.

00:25:51He's got it.

00:25:52He's got it.

00:25:53He's got it.

00:25:54He's got it.

00:25:55He's got it.

00:25:56He's got it.

00:25:57He's got it.

00:25:58He's got it.

00:25:59He's got it.

00:26:00He's got it.

00:26:01He's got it.

00:26:02He's got it.

00:26:03He's got it.

00:26:04He's got it.

00:26:05He's got it.

00:26:06He's got it.

00:26:07He's got it.

00:26:08He's got it.

00:26:09He's got it.

00:26:10He's got it.

00:26:11He's got it.

00:26:12He's got it.

00:26:13He's got it.

00:26:14He's got it.

00:26:15He's got it.

00:26:16He's got it.

00:26:17He's got it.

00:26:18He's got it.

00:26:19He's got it.

00:26:20He's got it.

00:26:21He's got it.

00:26:22He's got it.

00:26:23He's got it.

00:26:24He's got it.

00:26:25He's got it.

00:26:26He's got it.

00:26:27He's got it.

00:26:28He's got it.

00:26:29He's got it.

00:26:30He's got it.

00:26:31He's got it.

00:26:32He's got it.

00:26:33He's got it.

00:26:34He's got it.

00:26:35He's got it.

00:26:36He's got it.

00:26:37He's got it.

00:26:38He's got it.

00:26:39He's got it.

00:26:40He's got it.

00:26:41He's got it.

00:26:42He's got it.

00:26:43He's got it.

00:26:44He's got it.

00:26:45He's got it.

00:26:46He's got it.

00:26:47He's got it.

00:26:48He's got it.

00:26:49He's got it.

00:26:50He's got it.

00:26:51He's got it.

00:26:52He's got it.

00:26:53He's got it.

00:26:54He's got it.

00:26:55He's got it.

00:26:56He's got it.

00:26:57He's got it.

00:26:58He's got it.

00:26:59He's got it.

00:27:00He's got it.

00:27:01He's got it.

00:27:02He's got it.

00:27:03He's got it.

00:27:04He's got it.

00:27:05He's got it.

00:27:06He's got it.

00:27:07He's got it.

00:27:08He's got it.

00:27:09He's got it.

00:27:10He's got it.

00:27:11He's got it.

00:27:12He's got it.

00:27:13He's got it.

00:27:14He's got it.

00:27:15He's got it.

00:27:16He's got it.

00:27:17He's got it.

00:27:18He's got it.

00:27:19He's got it.

00:27:20He's got it.

00:27:21He's got it.

00:27:22He's got it.

00:27:23He's got it.

00:27:24He's got it.

00:27:25He's got it.

00:27:26He's got it.

00:27:27He's got it.

00:27:29Barichel and Schumacher came across the start and finish perhaps 300 yards apart.

00:27:42Too far from each other to get any benefit from a draft.

00:27:46Here they are closing up again into turn one.

00:27:48Let's watch onboard pays.

00:27:52Here he comes.

00:27:56Opposite lock there.

00:27:57Turns his way in.

00:27:58The car doesn't want to bite.

00:27:59He has to get on the power.

00:28:00He's going to push under the grass.

00:28:01Get on it to kick the tail out.

00:28:03Around he goes.

00:28:04And around he goes the other way.

00:28:05And off we go again.

00:28:06I tell you what, when you have 800 horsepower there and you see the way those revs flick

00:28:10up and down when you get the power on it, it's very difficult to balance it when the

00:28:14car gets a little bit out of shape.

00:28:19So neither Schumacher, rather Schumacher did pick up the gap now stands at .3 seconds

00:28:26to Rubens Barrichello.

00:28:28With the McLaren still third and fourth.

00:28:30So Schumacher picked up two-tenths of a second on that last lap from the quickest time he'd

00:28:37done thus far.

00:28:38You're watching Jarno Trulli in the Jordan.

00:28:41His teammate just coming out onto the course.

00:28:4424 minutes remain in the only qualifying session for tomorrow's United States Grand

00:28:51Prix.

00:28:52Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello, quickest of the Ferraris, here are the tracks

00:28:58that have hosted formula one in the United States.

00:29:01And we'll be back with formula one qualifying live on fox sports net after this.

00:29:12Welcome back to the Indianapolis motor speedway.

00:29:14Formula one qualifying for tomorrow's 44th United States Grand Prix.

00:29:18Here's a look at the run down thus far.

00:29:21Two Ferraris, two McLarens.

00:29:23That's Mika Hakkinen out on course on a relatively empty racetrack.

00:29:27And this, Mike, I have to say should be the lap to watch because Mika will be putting

00:29:32absolutely everything into this.

00:29:33He's been waiting.

00:29:34He said the car feels a lot better.

00:29:36He's obviously got the tires on the car he won having evaluated them and he's out there

00:29:40ready about to have a real go to knock that four or so tenths off Michael Schumacher's

00:29:44time to get there on pole position.

00:29:47Peter Windsor?

00:29:48Well, as Derek pointed out, Rubens Barrichello helped Michael Schumacher there.

00:29:51Mika Hakkinen on his own and Ron Dennis wants it that way.

00:29:54Mika likes a clear track and he certainly has that at the moment.

00:29:57So quite a contrast from the Ferrari strategy of putting Barrichello on the track directly

00:30:01in front of Schumacher so Schumacher could benefit from a draft.

00:30:04Well, I think you have to say that the McLaren can always run a little bit less downforce

00:30:08on the car to get the same effect aerodynamically and obviously work through the corners.

00:30:14They can make it work much better.

00:30:15The Ferrari always seems to have more drag.

00:30:18Let's see how he fares up in this first sector.

00:30:21You'll see that dotted line across the track, that marks the timing line.

00:30:25Well, he's five one hundredths slower than Schumacher's best lap.

00:30:29And he will know that.

00:30:30They will be telling him, it will be shown on his telemetry and he'll put so much more

00:30:34effort into this next bit as he goes down Holman Street.

00:30:36However, Derek, it is the fastest first sector that Mika has run today.

00:30:41But he's got to find four tenths, Mike.

00:30:44That's nearly half a second he's got to find.

00:30:46That is a lot he has to find.

00:30:48But he has to find but a tenth to displace Barrichello from the outside of the front

00:30:52row.

00:30:53Getting on the front row here is so important.

00:30:55Absolutely.

00:30:56And it's really what he wants to do is be up there.

00:30:57He's got to be there.

00:30:58He's knocked it down, Derek.

00:30:59Eighteen thousandths of a second.

00:31:01Just two one hundredths slower than Schumacher.

00:31:07And here he comes through turn 13 and out to complete the lap.

00:31:10Mika Hakkinen, the defending world champion, trying to find a place on the front row.

00:31:20He doesn't.

00:31:21Yeah, he does.

00:31:22He gets on the front row, right.

00:31:23But he doesn't out Michael Schumacher.

00:31:24So we've got the usual protagonists on that front row at the moment.

00:31:27So Ferrari will be out there pushing Barrichello to go.

00:31:30I wonder if they'll send Michael out to give Barry a pull down the straight or a toe.

00:31:35Well, it certainly would be a benefit to Ferrari to have both the McLarens back in row two.

00:31:40And they're changing the wing again on the Ferrari.

00:31:42So they're probably going to have another go at this.

00:31:44What they did just now, I assume, is they put that other wing on, which had more downforce.

00:31:48And then to get down the straight, he needed somebody else's slipstream to help tow him

00:31:52down the straight.

00:31:53The problem they're getting with towing down the straight is because of the high revs they're

00:31:56pulling, they actually lose the amount of air going in the engine.

00:31:59And they don't gain the revs they want to.

00:32:02These engines rev the highest rev count we saw yesterday was 17,800 RPM on Nick Heichkel's

00:32:08Cross.

00:32:09That is a screamer.

00:32:10Yeah.

00:32:11As lazy as it was until it blew up, isn't it?

00:32:16Hakkinen is now on his in lap.

00:32:18This is significantly slower than the lap he just ran.

00:32:23Yes, he's in the pit lane now.

00:32:27Now Hakkinen can do no more.

00:32:29That is it.

00:32:30Schumacher can actually have one more but go.

00:32:31Hakkinen has done his ten laps.

00:32:33Both Barry Kello, Coulthard and Schumacher can do another run.

00:32:37That is the end of Hakkinen's attack.

00:32:45So Mika Hakkinen will roll back into the garage to the attention of his teams.

00:32:49When these teams pit during the race, over the wall, men six or seven allowed in other

00:32:54formulas, but it takes 23 men to service a Formula 1 car.

00:32:58It does make you wonder they don't trip over each other.

00:33:00It's absolutely remarkable how nobody gets run over.

00:33:0717 minutes left in this qualifying session.

00:33:10And it appears that only Hakkinen and Jacques Villeneuve and Riccardo Zonta have completed

00:33:17their runs along with the Fisichella, Irvine, Villarosa, Alessi and Jeunet.

00:33:26Have run up their maximum number of laps.

00:33:2912 are permitted in this session.

00:33:32And here's David Coulthard coming out onto the track.

00:33:35As we watch Jean-Carlo Fisichella, the driver who had the only serious incident of yesterday

00:33:40morning's practice, or of all of yesterday, really, when he went into the tire barriers

00:33:45in the infield.

00:33:46Johnny Herbert yesterday also collected the outside retaining wall here in the front straightaway

00:33:50in the braking zone for turn one right there.

00:33:53But that car has been prepared.

00:33:56Fisichella 15th fastest.

00:33:59Trying to improve on that.

00:34:01Tomorrow, the world's best drivers and the world's most exotic cars on the world's greatest

00:34:06racetrack.

00:34:07It's the United States Grand Prix.

00:34:09Live coverage begins tomorrow at 1 p.m.

00:34:11Eastern time here on Fox Sports Net.

00:34:19Here's a list of the Indianapolis 500 winners who also competed in Formula 1.

00:34:23That red arrow in front of Jacques Villeneuve indicates he's the only one of those who is

00:34:26in the field today.

00:34:29I don't think anybody's really aware that that many drivers ever did both.

00:34:32It's quite phenomenal when you think about it.

00:34:34David Coulthard just did his lap.

00:34:35They take him into the scrutineering bay to weigh him, just to check he's not underweight

00:34:39or cheated in any way.

00:34:40He had the one chance to go out there and try and beat the time of Michael Schumacher,

00:34:45but he didn't make it.

00:34:46And he has one more.

00:34:47He went out, Derek, took an exploratory lap and came in, but that was only his ninth lap.

00:34:51So Coulthard has another run.

00:34:53Here is Jarno Trulli.

00:34:54Let's check with Peter.

00:34:56Yes, I'm with Alex Wurz.

00:34:57Alex, you finished your runs very competitive yesterday, but car dropping off in performance now.

00:35:02Yeah, quite a lot of drop-off.

00:35:04Still so with my own performance, I'm really happy.

00:35:06The last lap was quite a banger, no mistake.

00:35:09I came from position 17 to position 11 and beat my teammate who is in the qualifying car,

00:35:15so better material.

00:35:17I'm a few tenths faster, so my performance today was really good.

00:35:20But unfortunately, car not.

00:35:22Surprisingly slow performance from Bennison, because with this engine on this circuit,

00:35:26thought they might go a bit better.

00:35:28Yeah, I mean, I'm really disappointed, because yesterday everything was in order,

00:35:32and then we just lost it, and I don't know where it's gone, the performance,

00:35:36because normally we should be easy in the top ten.

00:35:39Okay, Alex Wurz disappointed, but did a great job yesterday when the track was new.

00:35:43Well, Alexander Wurz is auditioning every time he gets into the car.

00:35:47He does not have a Formula 1 ride for next year,

00:35:49and I'm sure while he's not going to be happy with what could potentially be 11th on the grid,

00:35:54he certainly has something to brag about, that he's faster than Fisichella, isn't he?

00:35:58Just remember that he doesn't get the material.

00:36:00For some reason, the team seems to be up against him or certain people within the team,

00:36:03and he just isn't getting the equipment.

00:36:05As he said, the other guy is out there with a qualifying car,

00:36:07which he is not allowed to take over and use.

00:36:09So it's pretty tough for Alexander, but there's very big talk of him

00:36:12probably being the test driver at McLaren for next year,

00:36:15which is often a wonderful place to make your name and get on into another decent Formula 1 team.

00:36:19He and Riccardo Zonta have both been tipped for that possibility.

00:36:23Pedro Diniz is back out.

00:36:24Diniz, you're watching, is currently 10th fastest.

00:36:27A good run for him into Sauber.

00:36:29Trying to better that.

00:36:31These Formula 1 cars, compared to other cars that race at Indianapolis, are quite expensive.

00:36:37Start with a $300,000 engine package and $115,000 worth of chassis.

00:36:42Then they spend a little bit of money on the pedals,

00:36:44and the rest of it at the front there extinguishes $6,500.

00:36:47$40,000 worth of brakes and a steering wheel with electronic functions, $25,000.

00:36:53And that little gearbox at the back costs you $105,000 without any gears in it.

00:36:58Ka-ching!

00:37:00$810,000 to put that car on the track to go run a lap or two.

00:37:04The Ferraris are back out, Derek.

00:37:06They are going out again nose to tail,

00:37:08hoping to take advantage of a draft here in European-style qualifying,

00:37:13where all the cars are allowed on the track at the same time,

00:37:16and the fastest of each driver's 12 laps is the one that goes in the book.

00:37:20As we said just now, the Ferrari does appear to have a different rear wing on.

00:37:23They've changed it twice this session.

00:37:25David Coulthard has one more crack at getting out there and getting on the front row of the grid.

00:37:30Let's see what he can do as well, if he can beat Tumac.

00:37:33You can buy the whole front row of this year's Indianapolis 500,

00:37:37buy about seven NASCAR Winston Cup cars with what it costs to build one of these F1 cars.

00:37:42Of course, you can't buy them.

00:37:43Each of the 11 constructor teams is required to build their own race cars and field them.

00:37:51Although many do shop out the engine package to another supplier,

00:37:56usually a big car manufacturer like BMW, Mercedes, or Honda,

00:38:00Ferrari is the only team that builds both their own chassis and engines.

00:38:08Oh, man.

00:38:11Heinz-Harald Frentzen in the George.

00:38:14He's down in seventh place, still actually qualifying lower than his teammate, Jarno Trulli,

00:38:19who always seems to out-qualify him these days.

00:38:21Frentzen, of course, was here in June doing some early laps as we arrived with Michael Schumacher.

00:38:33This is turn one.

00:38:35And this is the fast lap. They've just completed their out lap.

00:38:43Whoa, he gets some opposite lock and he goes there.

00:38:45Everybody has opposite lock problems going through that section

00:38:47because it's very difficult to find any defining points.

00:38:50Very tight left-hander here, third gear.

00:38:55Then he's working his way onto Holman Boulevard and back up to 190 miles an hour.

00:39:00See the lights flashing on?

00:39:01That's when he gets the rev limiter as he goes to shift gear.

00:39:05And, Derek, they're doing just as you suggested.

00:39:07Barrichello is right behind him, so they're trying to slipstream Barrichello up onto the front row.

00:39:12Well, Michael needs him right behind him as he goes to the Mickey and Mouse, as I call it.

00:39:17Here they go now, out onto turn 11 and out onto that banking.

00:39:21This is the all-important, but Barrichello isn't close enough, in my opinion, to get benefit of Michael's tow.

00:39:27He won't get much. He's got to get closer.

00:39:30Michael's really giving in this lap because Barrichello's far too far back to really make benefit from it.

00:39:40And Schumacher is two tenths slower than his fastest lap.

00:39:44Here is Barrichello, and he does not go faster.

00:39:48He is still third fastest, and that is the final run for the Ferraris.

00:39:53So, of the front four, only David Coulthard has laps remaining to try and improve his time.

00:40:01Well, I'm right by the McLaren garage.

00:40:03Both drivers, Micka Hakkinen and David Coulthard, sitting calmly there.

00:40:06But, believe me, inside their helmets, they're wondering what's going to happen next.

00:40:09There's three, four, five minutes to go, and Micka Hakkinen's been complaining of a little bit of problem with the pressure in the left rear.

00:40:14He's going to go out for one more run.

00:40:16David Coulthard hoping he's going to get a tow from Micka Hakkinen,

00:40:20as Rubens Barrichello helped Michael Schumacher.

00:40:22Let's see what happens.

00:40:24Well, Micka has just two laps left, so he wouldn't be able to put out a time lap,

00:40:27but after Coulthard goes out, he could come out, wait on David, and tow him around.

00:40:33The fastest track speed here, at the end of the front straightaway,

00:40:37in this qualifying hour, Rubens Barrichello in the Ferrari, 328 kilometers.

00:40:42That's 200 miles an hour.

00:40:44So, Derek, they're running significantly more downforce on the cars,

00:40:48which creates more drag than what we saw yesterday.

00:40:51As, indeed, they would in qualifying, Mike.

00:40:52They always want to do this.

00:40:53They've got to make the whole car work and hopefully get a tow, as we saw just now.

00:40:57What a wonderful shot as we ride off the front of the Williams.

00:40:59That's of Ralph Schumacher.

00:41:01There is Ralph, and remember, Ralph is down in tenth place.

00:41:04His teammate, oh, he's gone off.

00:41:05That's not going to do nothing for his time.

00:41:07He was on a real try there.

00:41:08Jenson Button, his teammate, is really punishing Ralph this weekend.

00:41:11And he didn't stall it.

00:41:12Good thing, because these cars don't have self-starters.

00:41:15But he's got to get to reverse, and that isn't quite so easy,

00:41:18because he's all got it on the wheel.

00:41:19Here we come again.

00:41:20Coming down the braking area.

00:41:22Brakes very, very hard.

00:41:24This is down Coleman straight.

00:41:26Loses it going, gets it on opposite lock.

00:41:28And, of course, there's just no more lock at hand.

00:41:30Round he goes.

00:41:32These runoff areas are very, very good here, I have to say, at Indianapolis.

00:41:35They've done a wonderful job on this track.

00:41:37Braking for the turn nine and ten.

00:41:39Double hairpin.

00:41:41There he goes.

00:41:42Stopped very, very quickly, in fact.

00:41:44But that's ruined his chances there, his time, in fact.

00:41:50He kept spinning the wheels so the car would not stall.

00:41:53And let's see from Ralph's car.

00:41:55Here we are, 185 miles out on Holman straight.

00:41:58Brakes severely right down to second gear.

00:42:00Changes down there.

00:42:01And as he goes in, just never got into the corner.

00:42:04He, I think, something like his rear brakes probably just grabbed.

00:42:07And around went the tail of the car.

00:42:09And that was it.

00:42:10Curtains for him.

00:42:11Meanwhile, out goes Jenson Bunn.

00:42:13And the two McLarens are on their way out.

00:42:15Obviously, Mika Hacken, we imagine, to help give David Coulthard a toe on one lap.

00:42:20And here's Peter.

00:42:21That's right.

00:42:22Both of them out now.

00:42:23McLaren throwing their hand right down on the table.

00:42:26Let's see what they can do against Michael Schumacher.

00:42:28Can they get the pole from Michael Schumacher?

00:42:30Now, David is in front of Mika.

00:42:33Since Mika has only two laps, he will be trying to shove David around the course.

00:42:38And on David's timed lap, though, Peter, I think this could be a mistake.

00:42:42Because where David needs the help most is out on the oval.

00:42:46And on the second lap, which will be David's timed lap, Mika will have to come in because that's his 12th and final lap.

00:42:51That's all right.

00:42:52As long as he takes him over the line with him behind him.

00:42:54That's all right.

00:42:55Mika can then pull over and let David carry on for his second lap.

00:42:58Mika will come in on that lap.

00:42:59I agree.

00:43:00No, it can work.

00:43:01But it's the second lap, isn't that one?

00:43:02David really needs the tow.

00:43:04As long as he comes over the line with a tow.

00:43:06He needs it on one or other lap across the bridge.

00:43:08Okay.

00:43:09We'll see.

00:43:11On board Johnny Herbert.

00:43:14Who, with the Jaguar, has struggled 19th fastest of the 22 cars.

00:43:20At some point in this, Mika Hakkinen has to go past Coulthard.

00:43:23Because Coulthard currently is in front.

00:43:25There we go.

00:43:26He's let Mika by now.

00:43:27And then we'll see if they can pull him up.

00:43:29Remember, David Coulthard has to pull up something like 7 tenths of a second.

00:43:33Mika Hakkinen could only pull up 2 and a half tenths just now.

00:43:36Very unlikely.

00:43:37They're all very nervous in the pits.

00:43:39They're waiting to see whether David can get up onto that front row.

00:43:42Or certainly up well up on the second row.

00:43:45It'll work most.

00:43:46It'll work best if David can slingshot him down the front straightaway.

00:43:49But I'm not sure he's close enough.

00:43:51He's closing.

00:43:52There, he's getting the tow now.

00:43:53And then Mika has to quit.

00:43:54Let him go by.

00:43:55And we're braking.

00:43:56Here he goes.

00:43:57Braking down his second gear.

00:43:59Turn 1.

00:44:01Not the fastest speed of the day.

00:44:03Barrichello continues to hold that at the speed trap.

00:44:06So it may have helped David.

00:44:07But not as much as I think they wished.

00:44:10They're not used to slipstreaming.

00:44:12In the early days of the race, we slipstream all the time.

00:44:15It's the only way to get a time.

00:44:16These guys aren't really used to it.

00:44:18So it's quite a novelty to them.

00:44:19Well, for some years they haven't done it anyway.

00:44:22And it's something you can only do at Indianapolis.

00:44:24Among the world's Grand Prix courses to this kind of effect.

00:44:26First time we've seen this strategy.

00:44:28So Coulthard is now on his own.

00:44:30This is real Indy strategy.

00:44:32You realize that this is what they do in the 500.

00:44:34It's slingshotting by people into the turns to get that time.

00:44:41That's the BMW Williams out in front of the two McLarens.

00:44:44Now, can he be under Michael Schumacher?

00:44:46Could be miraculous if he was.

00:44:48Yes, he's right on the par with Michael Schumacher.

00:44:512,000ths of a second inside Michael Schumacher's time.

00:44:54My goodness me.

00:44:55It would be pretty embarrassing if he misplaced Mika Häkkinen on the front row, wouldn't it?

00:45:00After Mika helped him.

00:45:01Let's see what happens when they go over the line.

00:45:03He's got to beat 1.14.2.

00:45:06Last chance for Paul.

00:45:07David Coulthard to Scott.

00:45:09Second.

00:45:10He's put Mika Häkkinen back on the second row of the grid.

00:45:13That's a turn up for the books.

00:45:14That's Ron Dennis' wife you see there in the shot.

00:45:17But what a turn up for the books.

00:45:18He's pushed and relegated Häkkinen back to the second row.

00:45:21I'm sure that wasn't part of the plan.

00:45:24Not with Häkkinen having a two-point lead in the World Championship.

00:45:27And his closest contender Michael Schumacher on the pole.

00:45:30McLaren's strategy here may have backfired.

00:45:33Yes, they got Coulthard a quicker time.

00:45:35But at Häkkinen's expense.

00:45:37Well, that's the way it goes.

00:45:38That is what you call teamwork.

00:45:40Mika said one day two years ago when Coulthard pulled over to let him win the Australian Grand Prix.

00:45:45Let's give you payback one day.

00:45:46I guess that's what you call payback even if it was three years later.

00:45:49Now, Derek, it's not quite over.

00:45:50The checkered flag's in the air.

00:45:52And here's Jenson Button, the 20-year-old Brit.

00:45:54For Williams BMW who's just had a stellar rookie season.

00:45:58He has just run his fastest first sector.

00:46:01Second was not as quick.

00:46:03But he's trying to move up from sixth on the grid.

00:46:06He lacks only one one-hundredth of a second of fifth place.

00:46:09But he needs to pick up four-tenths of a second to move up to the second row.

00:46:13And here he comes.

00:46:14Didn't he need a ten?

00:46:15No.

00:46:22Button a second off pole and still at sixth place.

00:46:25Nonetheless, a fine effort for the rookie driver.

00:46:28Amazing effort for a young man, 20 years old, first season of Formula One, fourth season of racing.

00:46:33Well, Peter, did McLaren's strategy work the way they planned or did it backfire?

00:46:38Well, believe it or not, there are smiles all around here, Mike.

00:46:40I just spoke to Mark Slade, Mika Hakkinen's engineer.

00:46:42I said, is Mika upset?

00:46:44He said, no, no, no.

00:46:45It was a great result.

00:46:46Actually better than he had hoped for.

00:46:48And I said, well, does that pay back for Melbourne 98?

00:46:50Remember when Mika Hakkinen, David Coulthard let Mika Hakkinen win and he sort of smiled and shrugged and walked away.

00:46:59The two McLarens there parked after a successful qualifying.

00:47:03They're second and third behind Michael Schumacher.

00:47:06And we'll be right back to Indy after this.

00:47:11Ferrari and McLaren have figured it out.

00:47:13The fast way around Indianapolis, you need a tow, you need a drafting partner, you need to slipstream.

00:47:19And here is Michael Schumacher coming to the pit wall, saluting this huge crowd in the double deck front grandstand at the Indianapolis motor speedway.

00:47:28He has won the pole for the United States Grand Prix tomorrow live on Fox Sports Net.

00:47:37McLaren, Mercedes captures the next two spots.

00:47:40David Coulthard and defending world champion Mika Hakkinen.

00:47:44So it will be Ferrari, McLaren, McLaren, Ferrari, the front two rows.

00:47:48Jordan and Williams, row three.

00:47:51Jordan and B.A.R., row four.

00:47:54Sauber and Williams in row five.

00:48:01Schumacher, who completed his 12 laps early on in the session, plenty of time to get changed.

00:48:06And now make his way, along with the two McLaren drivers, to what should be a most interesting press conference.

00:48:14With the strategy and the drafting that went on in qualifying.

00:48:19Indianapolis, once again, proves unique.

00:48:22And we'll learn more about it after this.

00:48:29Michael Schumacher walking up the pit lane.

00:48:31And thousands of fans across the way in the grandstand continue to salute him.

00:48:36And a man who came in here yesterday without a great sense of the history of Indianapolis.

00:48:41Now as these fans salute him along this long walk up to the press room.

00:48:45We'll have a different view of this place when he goes into the press conference as the first Formula 1 pole sitter.

00:48:51Let's join Peter Windsor.

00:48:54Thanks very much, Jenson.

00:48:56Brilliant performance, sensational performance.

00:48:58You've loved this place from the minute you drove it, right?

00:49:00Yeah, definitely.

00:49:01I mean, it's new for everyone, which makes it extra special, really, coming here for the first time.

00:49:05But it's very spectacular.

00:49:07I mean, look at the crowd.

00:49:08It's great.

00:49:09And I'm sure tomorrow's race is going to be quite spectacular for them and for us.

00:49:13So I can't wait.

00:49:14It's been a good weekend so far.

00:49:15Tell us about that bank corner.

00:49:16What's it like going through turn one the wrong way?

00:49:18It's good.

00:49:19Obviously, I haven't driven it the other way.

00:49:20So this seems the right way to me.

00:49:22But I think tomorrow is going to be great.

00:49:23I really can't wait.

00:49:24Yesterday in practice, me and Giancarlo Fisichella were side-by-side through there.

00:49:28And it's good fun.

00:49:29Love it.

00:49:30It's great.

00:49:31We can't wait, either.

00:49:32And congratulations.

00:49:33Great performance again.

00:49:35Jenson Button having a great time here.

00:49:37His time sixth fastest among all drivers.

00:49:41The last time a Ferrari won a pole at a United States Grand Prix, you have to go back to 1983.

00:49:46Reni Arnoux in Detroit.

00:49:48Schumacher.

00:49:49So it's Ferrari.

00:49:50McLaren.

00:49:51McLaren, Ferrari.

00:49:52The Jordan of Jarno Trulli and Jenson Button.

00:49:56Indianapolis Grand Prix of the United States.

00:49:58It's Michael Schumacher.

00:49:59It's David Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen.

00:50:02Michael, you were either very, very brave or you must have had a very accurate weather forecast

00:50:06the way you sat there and let everyone go out for that first run before you went out.

00:50:09How did you know it wasn't going to rain?

00:50:12I was hoping.

00:50:14Usually, the circuit is anyway a little bit slower initially.

00:50:18And, no, I was confident it's not going to rain, honestly.

00:50:23Even though when I went out, I got a few spots on my wiper, I got concerned.

00:50:27So I pushed a bit harder to finish the lap early to get in one lap.

00:50:33The last two runs you did, you went out together with Rubens.

00:50:36Were you looking to get a good tow down the straight and swap between yourselves?

00:50:40Basically, yes.

00:50:41I mean, you have such a long straight here.

00:50:42So we play a bit of team tactics as the other two guys did in the end.

00:50:48Now, once again, you're fastest in qualifying.

00:50:50But yesterday, which was sort of race set up day, you weren't as quick as the McLarens.

00:50:53Are you happy you've got a good race set up for tomorrow?

00:50:55Don't worry.

00:50:56Yes.

00:50:58Thank you, Michael.

00:51:00David, you just missed getting the pole position, but it was some great teamwork there.

00:51:04Whose idea was it to send Mika out with you for those last two laps he had left over?

00:51:07My idea.

00:51:11Actually, Adrian came across and said, would it help if Mika gave you a tow?

00:51:17The obvious answer is, of course, yes, it would help.

00:51:20And I think the way we did it worked quite well for me.

00:51:23So I'm not sure how much time it gained me, but it certainly gained me a little bit down the straight.

00:51:27Now, it's pretty obvious that there is a very considerable tow down this straight.

00:51:31And from the speed trap times, you guys are running a lot more wing during qualifying.

00:51:36Do you expect everyone to take wing off for the race to make advantage of that straight line speed?

00:51:40I think it will be, although this is a longer straight than we have for a longer amount of flat out, 100% throttle than we have at other tracks,

00:51:48I think the same sort of strategy for race set up will apply because you still need to get through the infield section.

00:51:53So, yes, there probably will be some wing taken off, but you want to make sure that you've got the quickest race car.

00:51:58Thanks, David.

00:52:00Mikko, your selfish act of helping David meant you've dropped down a place. Are you disappointed?

00:52:07No, not really, no.

00:52:10You do it again?

00:52:12It depends on the situation, of course, but this time it was actually ideal.

00:52:19And looking at the starting grid anyway, it is a bit weird because they have this old tarmac.

00:52:30Well, what we call it, you know, old road, old track on the surface, on the starting grid.

00:52:37So when you do your start, you're going to lose the tracks very easily going over those little bumps.

00:52:44So maybe the second row is not too bad after all.

00:52:48Now, you've helped David today, but tomorrow in the race to the championship, do you expect a bit of payback? Do you think he'll help you?

00:52:55Well, the moment we go to the race tomorrow, we go there to win.

00:53:02Me and also David.

00:53:05So we'll see how the race will go on and we have to understand what chances we have, which positions we are able to get.

00:53:13And let's see how the race develops.

00:53:17Mikko, it's a very wide straight with a lot of options for people to perhaps come to the inside.

00:53:22Are you worried about the first corner and all those cars going into it and funneling tightly?

00:53:26I mean, there's always a worry for the first corner.

00:53:29Not more, not less here, honestly.

00:53:32Just have to put in a good start, be up front, turn in first into the first corner and you're out of trouble.

00:53:38That's what you have to do.

00:53:40We'll see whether we achieve it.

00:53:43Ladies and gentlemen, now a word from Michael and Mikko.

00:53:46That is the press conference that's provided to all of the 77 countries televising Formula 1.

00:53:52And atop the pylon is the number three of Michael Schumacher, David Coulthard and Mika Hocken are the three fastest qualifiers for the U.S. Grand Prix.

00:53:59And an interesting point Mika made about maybe the second row being better than the first.

00:54:03We'll explore that later in the show and we will be coming back to Indianapolis.

00:54:07But first, after this break, we'll be taking you briefly to Los Angeles for a college football Saturday preview with Kevin Frazier.

00:54:15And then we'll be back here for more United States Grand Prix coverage here at Indianapolis.

00:54:20So stay with us.

00:54:25Welcome back to the Indianapolis motor speedway where Michael Schumacher driving a Ferrari has won the pole position for tomorrow's United States Grand Prix.

00:54:33And Schumacher just remarked in the press room how delighted he was and surprised by the thunderous reception from the American fans that he received here walking up to the press room after winning the pole.

00:54:45Mike Joy with Derek Bell and Derek, Mika Hocken had a rather prophetic comment talking about maybe the second row might be a better place to start than the first.

00:54:53Well, he may well be right because the second row he can get his wheels really spinning and get the tracks moving before he crosses over that yard of bricks.

00:54:59What do you think? Would you rather be on front row here?

00:55:02I like to be on the front row. Everybody does.

00:55:05Derek's about to hop in a Formula One car that he drove in 1968 in the U.S. Grand Prix to run some exploratory laps here in the parade.

00:55:12But let's look at highlights from today's qualifying. There was the rush hour to get out on track and post a first lap quickly.

00:55:18Mika Hocken did just that, jumping out to provisional pole.

00:55:22But Michael Schumacher waited till everybody made that first run and then he went out and took over the top spot.

00:55:27But it was Jenson Button, the sensation of the season, that went out and he set sixth quickest time. Outrageous bit of driving by him, I thought.

00:55:33Rubens Barrichello posted fourth fastest in the Ferrari after a bit of drafting back and forth.

00:55:38Eddie Irvine was trying very hard in the Jaguar, but boy, that back end of the car does like to come around on the front.

00:55:43He ended up 17th on the day.

00:55:45John Alesi had trouble with his Prost. The engine expired, relegating him to the outside of the 10th row.

00:55:52Jack Villeneuve, he's been up there all weekend. He wasn't terribly happy with his position and he had a little turnabout as well. Fortunately, without any problems.

00:56:00Then, Ralph Schumacher, who will start 10th tomorrow.

00:56:04Had an undoing, a long slide across the grass at turn nine.

00:56:10And David Coulthard, well, this is the story. Back to IndyCar racing here.

00:56:14David pulled out of Hackett and slipstreamed to get second place on the grid. Fantastic for David Coulthard.

00:56:21And Michael Schumacher took the long walk up the entire pit lane to the delight of the crowd.

00:56:27Winning the pole for tomorrow's United States Grand Prix.

00:56:31So, let's go live to Peter back in the pit lane.

00:56:36Downforce against grip. Obviously, the compromise for Arrows has been quite difficult to find.

00:56:40Yes, we haven't had a good qualifying session.

00:56:45At the beginning, we were on the top ten, but then we slipped backwards. I think we ended up 18th, which is not good enough.

00:56:51But anyway, we have the race in front of us tomorrow.

00:56:54Well, high standards, because it is really your first season in Formula One.

00:56:58You must be pleased with the way things are going. And what is it like racing here in America?

00:57:01It feels good to race here, really. First time in America, first race.

00:57:05Really looking forward to having a good race in a good circuit, I must say.

00:57:09And also in a very good circuit for overtaking.

00:57:12So, I think tomorrow will be a very interesting race, especially downforce levels, which teams take more.

00:57:17And there will definitely be a lot of overtaking tomorrow.

00:57:22Now, do the fans recognize you in the street yet?

00:57:24No, not yet. I think the fans only recognize mainly the people that win. I'm not winning now.

00:57:32Well, I'm sure you will be soon. Best of luck tomorrow.

00:57:35De La Rosa had the second fastest top speed down the front straightaway behind Rubens Barrichello today.

00:57:42So, here's the way they will start there at the Yard of Bricks.

00:57:44There's Heinz-Harold Frentzen and Jarno Trulli, the Jordan drivers.

00:57:52Let's see where they and the rest of the 22 car field will start tomorrow.

00:57:56Michael Schumacher on pole, David Coulthard on the outside. That's Ferrari McLaren on the front row.

00:58:02Hacken and Barrichello on the second row.

00:58:05And Trulli, quicker of the two Jordans with Jensen Buttons, Williams BMW, row three.

00:58:10And Heinz-Harold Frentzen along with Jacques Villeneuve in the eighth place that he's been in most of the weekend.

00:58:15A great run for Pedro Doniz. He puts his Sauber on to row five next to the Williams of Ralf Schumacher.

00:58:20And Alexander Wurz did a very good job along with Riccardo Zonta.

00:58:25In row seven, Jos Verstappen in his Arrows and the Sauber of Mika Salo.

00:58:30And Giancarlo Fisichella wouldn't have been very happy, but Heifelt was alongside him.

00:58:34Eddie Irvine in the Jaguar with De La Rosa's Arrows in row nine.

00:58:38Then the two Minardis, and finally, we'll be right back.

00:58:47Welcome back to Indianapolis. Coming up next, college football Saturday on Fox Sportsnet.

00:58:53Three big games. Number six, UCLA against Oregon.

00:58:56Houston versus Texas. And California, Fresno State.

00:58:59Beginning at 3.30 p.m. Eastern Time.

00:59:03Let's go back down trackside in the midst of this $40 million reconstruction of part of the infield of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

00:59:11and get a look behind the scenes with Peter.

00:59:13Well, I'm here right behind the garage area, and the teams, I have to say, are very spoiled here.

00:59:18There's lots of masseurs. You can get a massage here. You can get a nice meal.

00:59:22Prost probably provide very nice food. Pedro Doniz just being interviewed here.

00:59:25You can see the Prost mechanics enjoying some nice pasta there.

00:59:28In fact, Alan Prost stole the chef from Ferrari when he started his team.

00:59:32That's why they're eating pasta, even though it's a French team.

00:59:34Look a bit further down this area here. You can see the far end, Ferrari and McLaren.

00:59:39That's the exclusive end of this avenue.

00:59:41Let's go and talk to some of these boys over here.

00:59:43Hey, guys. What do you think of America so far?

00:59:49What do you think of the American food?

00:59:51Good. Very good.

00:59:53And what about the racetrack here?

00:59:56Sorry. I don't understand.

00:59:59The racetrack here in Indianapolis. Is it good?

01:00:02Yes. Very good.

01:00:03And the American fans?

01:00:06Not too bad.

01:00:08Not too bad. OK. Well, that's the Prost team.

01:00:10Here we move up to Benetton. Very chic Benetton team.

01:00:12Looks like the mechanics have just about finished lunch, so they're hard at work already on the cars,

01:00:18probably having to change engines, completely strip down the cars.

01:00:21But for the mechanics, this is like maybe a 35-minute break.

01:00:24Sandwich, drink, or pasta, as we saw in the case of Prost.

01:00:27Now the Williams BMW. Very efficient-looking team, this.

01:00:30Nice tablecloth here.

01:00:33Again, we can see Hamish here. He's Frank Williams' personal assistant.

01:00:36Hamish wondering what we're doing with the cameras.

01:00:39Let's have a look inside this Williams area here.

01:00:42No debriefs actually going on yet, but we see all the boys enjoying their food.

01:00:46And here's the lovely Carolyn, who's looking forward to a holiday in Bali after the Malaysian Grand Prix, no doubt.

01:00:51Doing a bit of surfing after the Malaysian Grand Prix, Carolyn?

01:00:54During the Grand Prix, actually.

01:00:56During the Grand Prix.

01:00:58I must say, Williams is very nice for its food, too.

01:01:00OK, boys, so this is the Formula One paddock.

01:01:03This is the side you never see.

01:01:05This is the area of food, drink.

01:01:07And let's relax a little bit after qualifying before all that hard work begins tonight.

01:01:11Well, it was quite a construction effort.

01:01:13Everything you see to the left of your screen here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, all of these garages are brand new.

01:01:19It is a requirement of Formula One that the garages open directly onto the pit lane and suites above them.

01:01:25Beginning in December 1998, an estimated $40 million has been spent to build the infield road course,

01:01:33build a new master control tower, one that resembled the historic pagoda here at the start-finish line,

01:01:39extend the yard of bricks across pit lane and into what, for Formula One, is the paddock club.

01:01:45You also see the suites here atop these garages, which are used just for Formula One.

01:01:50Over to the left here is the new four-story press tower.

01:01:54And in that main pagoda, timing and scoring, VIP suites, radio broadcast tower as well.

01:02:01Just a Herculean job.

01:02:04They began December 1998 and they finished two days ago to get it all done to run the U.S. Grand Prix.

01:02:14What a monumental undertaking.

01:02:16And, Derek, I dare say that no other circuit in America would have dared take on this level of project

01:02:22to bring another racing series such as Tony George has done here at Indianapolis.

01:02:26It's the only place in America that can handle it.

01:02:28What a fantastic place Indianapolis is.

01:02:30And to have the Formula One Grand Prix is just what it should be.

01:02:33Let's meet Peter with the number four starter tomorrow.

01:02:37Rubens, you gave Michael a nice tow there and he tried to help you. What happened?

01:02:41Well, at the end we made some changes on the car, which didn't work.

01:02:46So basically I used his draft, but then I couldn't really set a good lap.

01:02:53So it was a pity because we have a car capable of being on both cars and being on first row.

01:03:00Thank you very much, Rubens, and best of luck tomorrow.

01:03:04Well, wandering the paddock today we saw Jack Brabham, Dan Gurney, Phil Hill, Danny Sullivan, racing all-stars.

01:03:11It was like Derek was walking through a hall of fame talking to all of my heroes.

01:03:15Of course it was. Where do you think we are? We're at Indianapolis.

01:03:17Where more would you expect them to be, Pete?

01:03:20It's been such a wonderful day and what an epic qualifying session with slipstreaming

01:03:25becoming a factor to set the first four positions between Ferrari and McLaren.

01:03:29And tomorrow we will have live coverage on Fox Sportsnet of the entire United States Grand Prix

01:03:36with an extended free race coverage. So we hope you'll join us then

01:03:41as we look at some of the highlights and lowlights of qualifying.

01:03:46It's been a great day here at the greatest race course in the world.

01:03:49For Peter Windsor and Derek Bell, I'm Mike Joy.

01:03:52Join us tomorrow on Fox Sportsnet for the United States Grand Prix.

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