2004 United States Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Michael Schumacher won a dramatic United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with Rubens Barrichello second and Takuma Sato celebrating his first podium. The race was overshadowed by Ralf Schumacher’s heavy accident, while Zsolt Baumgartner scored a precious point for Minardi.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari
Pole time	1:10.223
Fastest lap	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari
Fastest-lap time	1:10.399 on lap 7
First	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Second	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari
Third	Takuma Sato	BAR

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
18 June 2004	Practice 1	11:00
18 June 2004	Practice 2	14:00
19 June 2004	Practice 3	08:00
19 June 2004	Practice 4	09:15
19 June 2004	Qualifying 1	12:00
19 June 2004	Qualifying 2	13:00
20 June 2004	Race	12:00

All times are local. The race time is the scheduled start; weather delays and interruptions are described below.

Championship background

Michael Schumacher arrived at round 9 leading the 2004 F1 World Championship on 70 points, with Rubens Barrichello on 54. Ferrari headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 124 points.

Race entries

Giorgio Pantano returned to Jordan alongside Nick Heidfeld after missing the Canadian race, with Timo Glock resuming Friday duties. Williams and Toyota arrived seeking a clean result after both teams’ cars had been excluded in Montreal for non-compliant brake ducts.

Free Practice

Rubens Barrichello led Michael Schumacher in a relatively quiet opening session. The champion ran wide at the first corner, while Davidson, Ricardo Zonta and Wirdheim featured prominently as third drivers carried out tyre work. The teams had to reconcile the long, fast oval section with the slower infield, where the surface initially offered less grip.

Rubens Barrichello increased his advantage in the afternoon, but several rivals lost valuable running. Fernando Alonso spun, David Coulthard suffered technical trouble and Takuma Sato collided with Felipe Massa. Michael Schumacher was less comfortable than his team-mate when pushing on the opening lap of a run, leaving Ferrari to investigate the balance before qualifying.

Rubens Barrichello remained fastest in the quiet first Saturday session. Ferrari had shown strong initial tyre performance, but graining over longer runs remained a consideration for the race. Sauber also needed to make up race-preparation work it had not completed on Friday, so the morning times did not tell the whole story of each team’s programme.

Jenson Button denied Rubens Barrichello a practice sweep with a late lap ahead of Michael Schumacher and Takuma Sato. Mark Webber spun and nudged the barriers, while Fernando Alonso finally found a more satisfactory balance in his Renault. The final exchanges left Ferrari and BAR closely matched, promising a competitive fight at the front.

Free Practice 1 Classification

2004 United States Grand Prix FP1, 18 June 2004

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	1:11.354	16
2	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.265s	16
3	35	Anthony Davidson	BAR	+0.339s	23
4	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+0.654s	11
5	38	Ricardo Zonta	Toyota	+1.012s	25
6	37	Bjorn Wirdheim	Jaguar	+1.070s	25
7	9	Jenson Button	BAR	+1.199s	14
8	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Sauber	+1.221s	12
9	17	Olivier Panis	Toyota	+1.277s	16
10	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+1.496s	14
11	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+1.635s	15
12	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+1.793s	8
13	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	+1.997s	15
14	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	+2.017s	17
15	10	Takuma Sato	BAR	+2.178s	12
16	16	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	+2.201s	18
17	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	+2.408s	10
18	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	+2.562s	10
19	15	Christian Klien	Jaguar	+3.053s	26
20	39	Timo Glock	Jordan	+3.663s	25
21	18	Nick Heidfeld	Jordan	+3.666s	14
22	40	Bas Leinders	Minardi	+3.674s	20
23	19	Giorgio Pantano	Jordan	+3.906s	20
24	20	Gianmaria Bruni	Minardi	+4.114s	9
25	21	Zsolt Baumgartner	Minardi	+5.697s	16

Free Practice 2 Classification

2004 United States Grand Prix FP2, 18 June 2004

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	1:10.365	24
2	35	Anthony Davidson	BAR	+0.602s	42
3	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+0.617s	29
4	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.671s	28
5	9	Jenson Button	BAR	+0.865s	19
6	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+1.165s	30
7	16	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	+1.528s	35
8	17	Olivier Panis	Toyota	+1.629s	30
9	38	Ricardo Zonta	Toyota	+1.654s	42
10	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+1.832s	20
11	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	+2.073s	33
12	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	+2.076s	28
13	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Sauber	+2.172s	27
14	10	Takuma Sato	BAR	+2.236s	3
15	37	Bjorn Wirdheim	Jaguar	+2.396s	30
16	15	Christian Klien	Jaguar	+2.585s	31
17	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	+2.831s	32
18	21	Zsolt Baumgartner	Minardi	+3.019s	18
19	39	Timo Glock	Jordan	+3.081s	33
20	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+3.367s	3
21	18	Nick Heidfeld	Jordan	+3.596s	18
22	19	Giorgio Pantano	Jordan	+4.042s	20
23	40	Bas Leinders	Minardi	+4.044s	21
24	20	Gianmaria Bruni	Minardi	+4.063s	17
25	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	No time	2

Free Practice 3 Classification

2004 United States Grand Prix FP3, 19 June 2004

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	1:10.911	9
2	9	Jenson Button	BAR	+0.160s	9
3	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.296s	8
4	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+0.598s	12
5	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+0.760s	14
6	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	+0.812s	11
7	10	Takuma Sato	BAR	+1.078s	14
8	16	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	+1.090s	12
9	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+1.104s	7
10	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	+1.217s	6
11	15	Christian Klien	Jaguar	+1.236s	6
12	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+1.329s	8
13	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Sauber	+1.494s	10
14	17	Olivier Panis	Toyota	+1.540s	14
15	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	+1.673s	11
16	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	+2.000s	13
17	20	Gianmaria Bruni	Minardi	+2.046s	12
18	21	Zsolt Baumgartner	Minardi	+2.485s	12
19	18	Nick Heidfeld	Jordan	+2.543s	11
20	19	Giorgio Pantano	Jordan	+2.850s	12

Free Practice 4 Classification

2004 United States Grand Prix FP4, 19 June 2004

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	9	Jenson Button	BAR	1:10.056	17
2	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.143s	16
3	10	Takuma Sato	BAR	+0.195s	23
4	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+0.295s	16
5	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+0.652s	13
6	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+0.693s	13
7	16	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	+0.746s	19
8	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+0.764s	9
9	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	+0.792s	13
10	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+1.166s	14
11	17	Olivier Panis	Toyota	+1.186s	20
12	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	+1.339s	13
13	15	Christian Klien	Jaguar	+1.936s	20
14	18	Nick Heidfeld	Jordan	+2.468s	16
15	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	+2.534s	14
16	19	Giorgio Pantano	Jordan	+2.547s	9
17	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Sauber	+2.630s	10
18	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	+2.805s	9
19	21	Zsolt Baumgartner	Minardi	+3.813s	13
20	20	Gianmaria Bruni	Minardi	+3.859s	14

Qualifying

Rubens Barrichello converted his strong weekend into pole, with Michael Schumacher securing an all-Ferrari front row. Takuma Sato and Jenson Button filled the second row, followed by Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher. The second qualifying lap, completed with the race fuel load, determined the grid.

Jarno Trulli suffered a gearbox problem and failed to set a time, leaving the Monaco winner at the back. The result gave Ferrari control of the start, but BAR’s pace and the long run to the first corner offered Takuma Sato and Jenson Button a chance to challenge.

Qualifying Classification

2004 United States Grand Prix Qualifying, 19 June 2004

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	First qualifying	Second qualifying	Laps
1	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	1:09.454	1:10.223	6
2	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:10.129	1:10.400	6
3	10	Takuma Sato	BAR	1:10.002	1:10.601	6
4	9	Jenson Button	BAR	1:10.115	1:10.820	6
5	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	1:09.824	1:11.062	6
6	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	1:10.003	1:11.106	6
7	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:11.415	1:11.137	6
8	17	Olivier Panis	Toyota	1:09.923	1:11.167	6
9	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	1:10.078	1:11.185	6
10	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	1:11.444	1:11.286	6
11	16	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	1:10.108	1:11.691	6
12	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:11.068	1:12.026	6
13	15	Christian Klien	Jaguar	1:11.777	1:12.170	6
14	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Sauber	1:10.997	1:12.470	6
15	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	1:11.315	1:12.721	6
16	18	Nick Heidfeld	Jordan	1:12.329	1:13.147	6
17	19	Giorgio Pantano	Jordan	1:12.017	1:13.375	6
18	20	Gianmaria Bruni	Minardi	1:13.776	1:14.010	6
19	21	Zsolt Baumgartner	Minardi	1:14.396	1:14.812	6
20	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	1:10.559	1:10.559	5

Jarno Trulli was left without a time in Q2 due to a gearbox failure.

What happened in the 2004 United States Grand Prix?

Juan Pablo Montoya switched to the spare Williams after trouble on the grid and started from the pit lane. An opening-lap collision eliminated several cars and brought out the Safety Car. Michael Schumacher passed Rubens Barrichello at the restart, before tyre failures sent Fernando Alonso and then Ralf Schumacher into heavy crashes. Ralf Schumacher suffered injuries that would keep him out for several races.

The second Safety Car period split the strategies. Rubens Barrichello lost time queuing behind Michael Schumacher in the pits, then fought back towards his team-mate. Takuma Sato stayed out initially and later made a series of overtaking moves, while Jenson Button retired with gearbox trouble. Juan Pablo Montoya was disqualified for leaving the grid too late before switching cars.

Michael Schumacher held off Rubens Barrichello to win. Takuma Sato passed Jarno Trulli to secure his first podium, with Olivier Panis fifth, the two McLarens sixth and seventh, and Zsolt Baumgartner eighth. Minardi’s point was its first since 2002 and made Zsolt Baumgartner the first Hungarian driver to score in Formula 1.

After the race, Michael Schumacher headed the drivers’ standings with 80 points, followed by Rubens Barrichello on 62. Ferrari led the constructors’ table on 142, with Renault on 66.

2004 United States Grand Prix race results

The 2004 United States Grand Prix was held on 20 June 2004, with a scheduled start of 12:00 local time.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	73	1:40:29.914	10
2	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	73	+2.950	8
3	10	Takuma Sato	BAR	73	+22.036	6
4	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	73	+34.544	5
5	17	Olivier Panis	Toyota	73	+37.534	4
6	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	72	+1 Lap	3
7	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	72	+1 Lap	2
8	21	Zsolt Baumgartner	Minardi	70	+3 Laps	1
9	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Sauber	65	Hydraulics	0
Ret	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	60	Oil leak	0
Ret	18	Nick Heidfeld	Jordan	43	Engine	0
Ret	9	Jenson Button	BAR	26	Gearbox	0
Ret	16	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	17	Gearbox	0
Ret	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	9	Puncture/Accident	0
Ret	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	8	Puncture	0
Ret	15	Christian Klien	Jaguar	0	Collision	0
Ret	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	0	Collision	0
Ret	19	Giorgio Pantano	Jordan	0	Collision	0
Ret	20	Gianmaria Bruni	Minardi	0	Collision	0
DSQ	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	57	Illegal car change	0

Juan Pablo Montoya started the race from the pitlane.

Montoya was disqualified from the Grand Prix for changing cars after the formation lap had started.

2004 United States Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time	Avg. Speed
1	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	7	1:10.399	214.366
2	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	8	1:10.412	214.327
3	10	Takuma Sato	BAR	47	1:10.727	213.372
4	17	Olivier Panis	Toyota	46	1:10.933	212.752
5	9	Jenson Button	BAR	22	1:11.025	212.477
6	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	45	1:11.187	211.993
7	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	8	1:11.236	211.847
8	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	59	1:11.248	211.812
9	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	37	1:11.255	211.791
10	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	8	1:11.982	209.652
11	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Sauber	44	1:12.129	209.225
12	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	46	1:12.140	209.193
13	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	44	1:12.155	209.149
14	16	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	8	1:12.872	207.091
15	18	Nick Heidfeld	Jordan	37	1:13.095	206.460
16	21	Zsolt Baumgartner	Minardi	39	1:14.097	203.668

Only drivers with a recorded lap time appear. Average speeds are in km/h. No fastest-lap bonus point was awarded.

2004 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings

Championship standings after the 2004 United States Grand Prix.

2004 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Michael Schumacher	German	Ferrari	80
2	Rubens Barrichello	Brazilian	Ferrari	62
3	Jenson Button	British	BAR	44
4	Jarno Trulli	Italian	Renault	41
5	Fernando Alonso	Spanish	Renault	25
6	Juan Pablo Montoya	Colombian	Williams	24
7	Takuma Sato	Japanese	BAR	14
8	Ralf Schumacher	German	Williams	12
9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Italian	Sauber	10
10	David Coulthard	British	McLaren	9
11	Kimi Räikkönen	Finnish	McLaren	8
12	Felipe Massa	Brazilian	Sauber	5
13	Olivier Panis	French	Toyota	5
14	Cristiano da Matta	Brazilian	Toyota	3
15	Nick Heidfeld	German	Jordan	3
16	Mark Webber	Australian	Jaguar	3
17	Timo Glock	German	Jordan	2
18	Zsolt Baumgartner	Hungarian	Minardi	1
19	Christian Klien	Austrian	Jaguar	0
20	Giorgio Pantano	Italian	Jordan	0
21	Gianmaria Bruni	Italian	Minardi	0

2004 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	Ferrari	142
2	Renault	66
3	BAR	58
4	Williams	36
5	McLaren	17
6	Sauber	15
7	Toyota	8
8	Jordan	5
9	Jaguar	3
10	Minardi	1

2004 Formula 1 Race Calendar

Round	Grand Prix	Circuit	Date
1	2004 Australian Grand Prix	Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne	7 March
2	2004 Malaysian Grand Prix	Sepang International Circuit, Sepang	21 March
3	2004 Bahrain Grand Prix	Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir	4 April
4	2004 San Marino Grand Prix	Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola	25 April
5	2004 Spanish Grand Prix	Circuit de Catalunya, Montmeló	9 May
6	2004 Monaco Grand Prix	Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo	23 May
7	2004 European Grand Prix	Nürburgring, Nürburg	30 May
8	2004 Canadian Grand Prix	Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Montréal	13 June
9	2004 United States Grand Prix	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis	20 June
10	2004 French Grand Prix	Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny-Cours	4 July
11	2004 British Grand Prix	Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone	11 July
12	2004 German Grand Prix	Hockenheimring, Hockenheim	25 July
13	2004 Hungarian Grand Prix	Hungaroring, Mogyoród	15 August
14	2004 Belgian Grand Prix	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot	29 August
15	2004 Italian Grand Prix	Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza	12 September
16	2004 Chinese Grand Prix	Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai	26 September
17	2004 Japanese Grand Prix	Suzuka International Racing Course, Suzuka	10 October
18	2004 Brazilian Grand Prix	Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo	24 October