Race Notes - Schumacher wins United States GP

Michael Schumacher won the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis today in his Ferrari, followed by his team mate Felipe Massa in second some 7.9 seconds back, and Giancarlo Fisichella in his Renault in third place 16.5 seconds behind the leader. The victory is the German drivers third of the season.

Jarno Trulli in his Toyota was in fourth place on a one-stop pit strategy. Fernando Alonso was fifth in his Renault, Rubens Barrichelo finished sixth in his Honda, David Coulthard was seventh in his Red Bull, Vitantonio Liuzzi was in the final points position in his Torro Rosso, and the final finisher was Nico Rosberg in his Williams.

At the start Massa got by team mate Schumacher, but further back at the first corner there was an incident involving Kimi Raikkonen, Nick Heidfeld Juan Pablo Montoya, Mark Webber, Scott Speed, Christian Klien and Franck Montagny, with Heidfeld's Sauber cartwheeling into the sandtrap, bringing out the safety car.

The order was Massa from Schumacher, Alonso, Fisichella, Barrichello, Villeneuve, Ralf Schumacher, Rosberg, Monteiro and Coulthard in tenth.

The race was restarted on lap 6, with Takuma Sato and Tiago Monteiro touching at the first corner.

On lap 14, Fisichella passed Alonso to take over third place and try to chase down the Ferraris.

On lap 23 Jacques Villeneuve retired with an engine failure.

On lap 24, Barrichello was the first to pit from fifth place, followed by Schumacher and Fisichella on lap 29, Massa and Ralf Schumacher on lap 30, Michael taking over the lead, Alonso on lap 31, Trulli and Liuzzi on a one-stop strategy on lap 39, Rosberg on lap 43 and Coulthard on lap 47.

On lap 45 the order was Schumacher 5.3 seconds ahead of Massa, followed by Fisichella a further 11 seconds back, Alonso, Ralf Schumachder, Barrichello, Trulli, Coulthard, Rosberg and Liuzzi in tenth.

The second round of pitstops started with Barrichello pitting on lap 49, followed by Massa on lap 52, Fisichella and Ralf Schumacher on lap 52, Schumacher from the lead on lap 54, and Alonso on lap 55.

On lap 63 Ralf Schumacher retired from fifth with an engine failure.

At lap 65 the order was Schumacher 13.7 seconds ahead of Massa, followed by Fisichella 11.4 seconds further back, Trulli, Alonso, Barrichello, Coulthard, Liuzzi and Rosberg, the final runner in ninth place.