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The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the world famous 'Brickyard', has hosted the United States Grand Prix since 2000. The new USGP circuit was built in the arena of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway - a banked oval and home of the famous Indy 500. The original oval was built out of brick but now only a one yard strip of bricks remains on the start/finish line, hence the 'brickyard' nickname. The course starts on the oval's main straight, but the Formula One circuit runs in the opposite direction with the usual first turn on the oval becoming that last turn. Following a tight first corner, the track then twists around a newly created infield with tight and slow corners, before cars blast around the last 11 degree banked corner of the oval where it's foot to the floor for a full 20 seconds into the first corner, allowing the drivers some time to relax as no cornering is required. Improved performance throughout the weekend and promising race starts from both drivers ended in disappointment for Jordan Ford today as both drivers retired from the race. Pantano made an excellent start and had made up several positions when he was caught in a first corner collision not of his making which also forced the retirement of three other cars.
Jordan Ford qualified in 16th and 17th for tomorrow's United States Grand Prix in Indianapolis's famous Brickyard circuit. Ferrari took the front row with Rubens Barrichello outqualified Michael Schumacher for the first time this season and Takuma Sato taking third place alongside BAR team mate Jenson Button in fourth. Incidentally, the three lead drivers for the grid are all past Jordan drivers, reinforcing Jordan's reputation as a talent spooter for bringing promising new drivers and stars of the future into the sport.
Jordan had a difficult free practice day in Indianapolis with all the drivers reporting balance problems at the circuit which is always tough for getting the best balance from car and tyres. The temperatures are also higher than the teams are used to, as the race is in June rather than September this year, which has also had an effect on balance issues. James Robinson said, “The programme has been that of a usual Friday but it’s been a hard day. We have concentrated on tyre homework, like everybody in the pit lane I’m sure. Indianapolis is very hard on tyres and today’s high ambient and track temperatures reinforced the need to do the homework well. On the positive side it was generally a trouble free practice although Nick had a small oil leak at the end which cost him the last few minutes, but nothing too serious. We now have a heavy night ahead of us to study the data to improve our race balance for tomorrow.”
Jordan arrives in Indianapolis buoyed by a double points result in Montreal and confident of continuing its campaign of steady improvement this season at the United States Grand Prix. The two North American races set a week apart gave the drivers an opportunity to train and relax in the Canadian mountains as Jordan’s human performance specialist Glenn Lindsay, who works with sponsor Vielife on the team’s health and wellbeing programme, took Nick Heidfeld, Giorgio Pantano and Timo Glock to Lake Sacacomie. |
