SEPTEMBER 24, 2003

Michael can be champion this weekend

Michael Schumacher may leave Indianapolis on Sunday night with a record sixth World Championship title. If Michael wins the race and Montoya is lower than sixth Schumacher would have an unassailable lead in the title race because even if Montoya won in Japan and Schumacher did not finish, the Ferrari driver would win the championship because he has scored more race wins than the Colombian. Kimi Raikkonen is also still in with a shot at the title if the others fall by the wayside, so in all probability the title race will go down to the wire in Suzuka.

Michael Schumacher's reliability record in recent years has been quite extraordinary and it is always possible - inconceivable though it may seem - that he might have a mechanical failure.