Results of the 2007 American F1 Grand Prix

Compared to the Canadian Grand Prix the week before, the only real drama at Indianapolis was in the McLaren camp – deciding who to let win. In the end it was superstar rookie Lewis Hamilton who led from pole to chequered flag, but not without a few challenges from teammate Fernando Alonso who finished behind him.

It was, in fact, a one-team race as McLaren again dominated for a one-two ahead of the two Ferraris of Massa and Raikkonen. They never challenged the top two but finished well ahead of fifth placed Heikki Kovalainen in his Renault and Jarno Trulli’s Toyota. Mark Webber finally picked up his first points of the season, while 19-year old stand in driver Sebastien Vettel became the youngest ever driver to score a point in F1 history.

Hamilton now becomes one of only three drivers to win two races on his debut and stretches his lead in the overall drivers’ title to 10 points over Alonso, opening up a very real possibility of winning the championship on his first attempt. But Alonso, who has been at the centre of discontent among the McLaren camp over favouritism, made it very clear he was still very much in the picture as he twice made a lunge; at the first corner and again on lap 39. Throughout the race the pair were never more than 3 seconds apart.

Meanwhile, Raikkonen lost two places at the start but posted the fastest lap of the race to try and get his 2007 season title-chase back on track. But despite pressure he was unable to overtake Massa in the closing laps. His nearest rival in the drivers’ log, Nick Heidfeld, retired on lap 56 and just a few laps later Nico Rosberg also lost out on some potential points to hand Vettel his historic point.

For David Coulthard, Ralph Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello the race was over before it had even began thanks to some minor collisions at the start that damaged suspensions and chassis. There was some back end jostling involving the other two Britons, as Jenson Button and Anthony Davidson fought it out for 11th and 12th, with Button coming off second best in his increasingly ‘second-best Honda’.

Considering Hamilton had never raced on this circuit, it was a stunning race for the new darling of F1. With all the media attention and rising friction with his teammate, his stunning pole-snatching lap in qualifying was significant to the results and tactics of a team that is now dealing with a difficult dilemma over who to push for the title.

Apart from enviable position of having two drivers 20 and 9 points ahead of the next challenger, McLaren are now racing away from arch rivals Ferrari in the Constructors’ title, with a 35 point lead. Massa, on 39, is still 7 points ahead of Raikkonen – whom many believed would be the most likely challenger to the title this season. The BMW-Saubers and Renaults languish far behind in the Constructors championship and drivers log with the Swiss team enjoying a comfortable edge over the reigning champion French-based team.

Results from the US Grand Prix, Indianapolis speedway, 17 June 2007

1. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) McLaren 1hr 31min 09.965
2. Fernando Alonso (Spain) McLaren +00:01.518
3. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari 00:12.842
4. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Ferrari 00:15.422
5. Heikki Kovalainen (Finland) Renault 00:41.402
6. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Toyota 01:06.703
7. Mark Webber (Australia) RedBull-Renault 01:07.331
8. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) BMW Sauber 01:07.783
9. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Renault 1 lap
10. Alexander Wurz (Austria) Williams-Toyota 1 lap
11. Anthony Davidson (Britain) Super Aguri-Honda 1 lap
12. Jenson Button (Britain) Honda 1 lap
13. Scott Speed (U.S.) Toro Rosso-Ferrari 2 laps
14. Adrian Sutil (Germany) Spyker-Ferrari 2 laps
15. Christijan Albers (Netherlands) Spyker-Ferrari 3 laps
16. retired Nico Rosberg (Germany) Williams-Toyota 5 laps
17. retired Vitantonio Liuzzi (Italy) Toro Rosso-Ferrari 5 laps
R Nick Heidfeld (Germany) BMW Sauber 18 laps
R Takuma Sato (Japan) Super Aguri-Honda 60 laps
R David Coulthard (Britain) RedBull-Renault 73 laps
R Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Honda 73 laps
R Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Toyota 73 laps
Fastest lap: Kimi Raikkonen, 1:13.117 on lap 49.