Turning Point in Formula One

How ironic, having a Formula One race with the largest crowd in series history, in a country where it is least appreciated.

That will be the situation today when 225,000 spectators jam portions of Indianapolis Motor Speedway to watch Finland’s Mika Hakkinen and Germany’s Michael Schumacher continue their quest for the world’s most coveted motor racing championship on a 2.606-mile course that is half twisting and technical and half high speed and flat out.

After 14 races in a series that encompasses 16 countries on five continents, two-time defending champion Hakkinen holds a minuscule two-point lead over Schumacher with only today’s United States Grand Prix and two other events remaining.

Dodging rain drops early in Saturday’s qualifying, Schumacher captured the pole with a lap of 126.265 and then waited and watched while his 21 competitors took shots at it and came up short.

“I saw a few spots on my visor when I pulled away, so I pushed a little harder than usual,” said the slender German after last-minute efforts by Hakkinen and his McLaren Mercedes teammate, David Coulthard. Hakkinen, with 125.990, was second fastest during most of the hourlong session, only to have Coulthard take it away from him--with Hakkinen’s help--on the last lap.

Coulthard followed his teammate on his next-to-last lap, getting a draft for the start of his 126.051-mph run.

“Basically, I ran out of laps and ended up with two left, which was not enough to do another qualifying run,” explained Hakkinen. “Therefore, I was able to help David.”

Drivers are permitted only 12 laps in qualifying, including warmup laps.

As the qualifying ended, Schumacher stood on the pit wall and pumped his first in triumph toward the flag-waving Ferrari fans in the stands.

Asked which car he would prefer having alongside him for the start, the wily Schumacher said, “a red one.” That would be Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello, who was fourth at 125.700. Barrichello had the fastest speed through the straightaway trap at 203 mph.

If Formula One form follows, four or five cars will slide and/or crash on the first two turns of the first lap, the winner will be the leader through the third turn and it will be a driver for one of only two teams--Ferrari and McLaren Mercedes.

From a standing start, the 22 starters will be reaching close to 195 mph, in sixth gear, before braking for the 70-mph second-gear first turn--a precarious situation at best.

“You always worry about the first corner, but no more so here,” Schumacher said. “I hope everyone gets through safely. They should, they are the 22 best drivers in the world. It’s up to us to be disciplined enough to just use the space that’s available.”

Hakkinen seemed a bit more concerned, starting third, directly behind Schumacher.

“First corners are always difficult,” he said. “Everyone wants to be the first through the first turn and it’s a long straightaway. We’re going to get to very high speed and luckily at the front of the race if somebody realizes they’re going too fast, that’s a good thing.”

If they don’t, that’s a bad thing.

Unless it rains--and there is a 50-50 chance of it today--Formula One races are usually follow-the-leader processions. Even FIA president Max Mosley, who controls racing worldwide, admitted that “there are only two teams who can win, McLaren and Ferrari.” The two have won all 14 races this year.

One variable is pit stops. Unlike NASCAR or Indy cars, where only six crew members are allowed over the wall to change tires and refuel, 23 crewmen swarm over Formula One cars when they pit. Surprisingly, what looks like chaos can result in a four-tire change and refill in eight seconds.

Both Hakkinen and Schumacher are chasing history. If Hakkinen holds his lead, the Flying Finn will become only the second driver to win three successive F1 titles, joining Juan Manuel Fangio. If Schumacher wins, he will become the first Ferrari driver to win since Jody Scheckter in 1979.

Schumacher, in the familiar blood red Ferrari colors, started the year as if he would run away with the championship, winning the first three rounds in Australia, Brazil and Imola, and then won at Nurburgring, Germany, and Montreal. Then his momentum began to slip, and he failed to score points in three races in a row.

Hakkinen moved quickly to take advantage of the situation, finishing first or second in France, Austria, Germany and Hungary. It was his win at Budapest that gave him the lead over Schumacher for the first time.

Schumacher’s win two weeks ago at Monza brought him within two points of the champion.

Only the first six finishers score points, with 10 to the winner and 6-4-3-2-1 following.

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U.S. Grand Prix

at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (road course, 2.606 miles,

13 turns)

Fox Sports Net,

11 a.m.