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United States Grand Prix Preview

Jun 17, 2007 - 10:36 AM

June 17, 2007
Indianapolis Motor Speedway 
Indianapolis, Indiana
Race 7 of 17 in Grand Prix Series

Laps: 73 
Track length: 2.6 miles 
Race length: 190.294 miles


DRIVERS TO WATCH
----------------

Fernando Alonso (Spain)
Team: McLaren
2007 Points: 40 (2nd)

Struggled to seventh at the Canadian Grand Prix last week and
fell eight points behind rookie teammate Lewis Hamilton, who
leads the standings after capturing his first career checkered
flag in the event; won at Monaco three weeks ago to climb into
tie with Hamilton atop the standings; ran third at hometown
Spanish Grand Prix five weeks ago to fall out of standings lead;
struggled to fifth place from the pole at Bahrain to fall into
a three-way first-place tie with Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen;
stormed to an easy victory at Malaysia and registered a
second-place finish in his McLaren debut at Australia, finishing
7.2 seconds behind Raikkonen; ran fifth in this event last
season.

Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy)
Team: Renault
2007 Points: 13 (6th)

Was black-flagged at Canada but still remained sixth in the
standings; ran fourth at Monaco to collect five points and claim
sole possession of sixth; failed to register a point at Spain
after finishing ninth and fell into tie with Robert Kubica for
sixth in the standings; ran eighth at Bahrain and finished sixth
at Malaysia after running fifth at Australia; ran third in this
event last season.

Lewis Hamilton (Britain)
Team: McLaren
2007 Points: 48 (1st)

Surprising series leader made history Sunday at Canada, becoming
the first black driver to win a Formula One race; placed second
in four consecutive races; rookie sensation has burst onto the
circuit by storm, running third at Australia and placing second
at Malaysia, Bahrain, Spain and Monaco; finished 18 seconds
behind Alonso at Malaysia and is first rookie in series history
since 1964 to capture podium finishes in his first three races;
also is the first black driver in series history.

Felipe Massa (Brazil)
Team: Ferrari
2007 Points: 33 (3rd)

Also was black-flagged at Canada but remained third in the
standings, 15 points behind Hamilton; ran third at Monaco after
capturing two straight checkered flags at Bahrain and Spain;
finished fifth at Malaysia; the top driver at Ferrari after
Michael Schumacher's retirement; kicked off his campaign with a
sixth place at Australia; was runner-up to Schumacher in this
race last season.

Kimi Raikkonen (Finland)
Team: Ferrari
2007 Points: 27 (4th)

Finished fifth at Canada but remained fourth in the standings;
struggled to eighth place at Monaco and retired due to
electrical problems at Spain and fell from first to fourth in
the standings; trails Hamilton by 21 points; registered his
second consecutive third-place finish at Bahrain to climb into
three-way tie with Hamilton and Alonso for first; had a dazzling
debut with new team Ferrari, capturing the checkered flag in
the season opener at Australia; joined Ferrari after spending
the last five years with McLaren.


2006 Top 10
-----------
 1. Michael Schumacher, Germany, Ferrari
 2. Felipe Massa, Brazil, Ferrari
 3. Giancarlo Fisichella, Italy, Renault
 4. Jarno Trulli, Italy, Toyota
 5. Fernando Alonso, Spain, Renault
 6. Rubens Barrichello, Brazil, Honda
 7. David Coulthard, Britain, RBR-Ferrari
 8. Vitantonio Liuzzi, Italy, STR-Cosworth
 9. Nico Rosberg, Germany, Williams-Cosworth
10. Ralf Schumacher, Germany, Toyota

Past Champions 
--------------
2006 (Indianapolis) Michael Schumacher, Ferrari
2005 (Indianapolis) Michael Schumacher, Ferrari
2004 (Indianapolis) Michael Schumacher, Ferrari
2003 (Indianapolis) Michael Schumacher, Ferrari 
2002 (Indianapolis) Rubens Barrichello, Ferrari 
2001 (Indianapolis) Mika Hakkinen, McLaren Mercedes 
2000 (Indianapolis) Michael Schumacher, Ferrari 
1991 (Phoenix) Ayrton Senna, McLaren Honda 
1990 (Phoenix) Ayrton Senna, McLaren Honda 
1989 (Phoenix) Alain Prost, McLaren Honda 
1988 (Detroit) Ayrton Senna, McLaren Honda 
1987 (Detroit) Ayrton Senna, Lotus Honda 
1986 (Detroit) Ayrton Senna, Lotus Renault 
1985 (Detroit) Keke Rosberg, Williams Honda