Indianapolis saw what might be the strangest Grand Prix in modern history. While all 20 cars lined up on the grid, the 14 Michelin-supplied cars came into the pit lane to retire at the end of the parade lap - Michelin having advised its teams that in the interests of safety they should withdraw from today’s USA Grand Prix. At the start, six cars made their way into the first corner. At the end of the first lap Schumacher headed Barrichello followed by Monteiro, Albers, Karthikeyan and, in P6, the Minardi of Friesacher. The six cars all ran at their individual and different paces, the Ferrari’s competing at the front several seconds faster than the cars of Jordan and Minardi. The Ferrari drivers lapped Friesacher for the first time on lap 20. Barrichello, running with less fuel than Schumacher, came in for his scheduled pit stop on lap 25. Schumacher stopped for fuel and a tyre inspection on Lap 26, rejoining in P2 behind his team mate.

Having lost his lead in the first pit stop, Michael Schumacher regained the lead leaving the pit lane after his second stop (lap 51) by just getting ahead of Barrichello into the first corner - the Brazilian locking up and going across the grass. The final results of the race, Schumacher won followed by Barrichello in second, with Monteiro taking the final step on the podium for Jordan followed by Karthikeyan, Albers and Friesacher in P6. With the one/two result, Ferrari now move in to second place in the Constructor’s Championship.

Mike Copson from Shell Global Solutions: ‘Our first one-two of the year in the strangest of circumstances. Our Shell products performed faultlessly throughout the weekend. It is our sincere hope that the other matters surrounding this race are well resolved without detriment to Formula One”