2005 United States Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Michael Schumacher won the United States Grand Prix, but the result was overshadowed by a tyre-safety crisis that left only six cars racing. The Michelin teams withdrew after the formation lap, and a Ferrari one-two unfolded in front of an understandably furious Indianapolis crowd.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Jarno Trulli	Toyota
Pole time	1:10.625
Fastest lap	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Fastest-lap time	1:11.497 on lap 48
First	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Second	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari
Third	Tiago Monteiro	Jordan

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
17 June 2005	Practice 1	11:00
17 June 2005	Practice 2	14:00
18 June 2005	Practice 3	09:00
18 June 2005	Practice 4	10:15
18 June 2005	Qualifying	13:00
19 June 2005	Race	13:00

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

Championship background

Fernando Alonso arrived at round 9 leading the 2005 F1 World Championship on 59 points, with Kimi Räikkönen on 37. Renault headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 76 points.

Race entries

The usual 20 race drivers began the weekend, with Speed again handling Red Bull’s Friday car. Ralf Schumacher’s heavy practice accident led the FIA medical team to rule him out, so Ricardo Zonta stepped into Toyota’s second race car. The subsequent Michelin withdrawal meant only Ferrari, Jordan and Minardi actually started the Grand Prix.

Free Practice

Juan Pablo Montoya led the opening session, but McLaren’s morning was not entirely smooth. De la Pedro de la Rosa stopped beside the track with a mechanical problem, and Kimi Räikkönen’s early excursion left him without a competitive time. Ricardo Zonta ran close to Juan Pablo Montoya on a slippery surface, giving Toyota an initially promising start before the weekend changed dramatically.

Ralf Schumacher suffered a violent accident at the banked final corner after a left-rear tyre failure. Ricardo Zonta also went off following a tyre problem, and Toyota eventually halted its running after further concerns. Juan Pablo Montoya remained fastest, but the urgent question was now whether Michelin’s tyres could safely withstand the circuit’s loading over a race distance.

Juan Pablo Montoya headed Saturday’s first practice, while both Toyotas stayed in the garage as the team awaited assurances from Michelin. Ricardo Zonta had learned that morning that he would replace Ralf Schumacher, leaving him to prepare for an unexpected race appearance amid an unresolved safety investigation. Toyota’s lack of running reflected concerns far more serious than lap time.

Kimi Räikkönen led final practice, and Toyota returned for limited running with Jarno Trulli and Ricardo Zonta. Their short programmes restored some qualifying preparation but did not settle the central tyre question. Michelin continued investigating and considering alternative tyres, while the teams faced the possibility that a competitive qualifying lap would have little bearing on Sunday’s participation.

Free Practice 1 Classification

2005 United States Grand Prix FP1, 17 June 2005

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	10	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren	1:12.027	6
2	38	Ricardo Zonta	Toyota	+0.058s	18
3	5	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+0.639s	10
4	8	Nick Heidfeld	Williams	+0.777s	9
5	3	Jenson Button	BAR	+0.838s	11
6	35	Pedro de la Rosa	McLaren	+0.886s	4
7	4	Takuma Sato	BAR	+0.986s	9
8	6	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	+0.997s	10
9	7	Mark Webber	Williams	+1.055s	10
10	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+1.215s	12
11	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+1.218s	12
12	17	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	+1.434s	7
13	16	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	+1.656s	7
14	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	+1.713s	8
15	37	Scott Speed	Red Bull Racing	+1.819s	21
16	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	+2.417s	8
17	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	+2.610s	7
18	11	Jacques Villeneuve	Sauber	+2.669s	6
19	19	Narain Karthikeyan	Jordan	+2.776s	18
20	18	Tiago Monteiro	Jordan	+2.951s	20
21	39	Robert Doornbos	Jordan	+3.764s	27
22	20	Patrick Friesacher	Minardi	+4.316s	16
23	21	Christijan Albers	Minardi	+4.330s	12
24	9	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	No time	3

Free Practice 2 Classification

2005 United States Grand Prix FP2, 17 June 2005

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	10	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren	1:11.118	21
2	9	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+0.110s	24
3	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+0.628s	22
4	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.640s	22
5	8	Nick Heidfeld	Williams	+0.707s	24
6	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	+0.958s	9
7	35	Pedro de la Rosa	McLaren	+1.001s	37
8	37	Scott Speed	Red Bull Racing	+1.025s	34
9	5	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+1.147s	28
10	16	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	+1.226s	10
11	6	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	+1.266s	29
12	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	+1.346s	25
13	7	Mark Webber	Williams	+1.460s	24
14	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	+1.546s	20
15	3	Jenson Button	BAR	+1.685s	24
16	4	Takuma Sato	BAR	+1.919s	26
17	11	Jacques Villeneuve	Sauber	+1.961s	23
18	39	Robert Doornbos	Jordan	+2.243s	36
19	38	Ricardo Zonta	Toyota	+2.449s	6
20	20	Patrick Friesacher	Minardi	+2.665s	16
21	21	Christijan Albers	Minardi	+2.845s	24
22	19	Narain Karthikeyan	Jordan	+2.890s	31
23	18	Tiago Monteiro	Jordan	+3.218s	35
24	17	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	No time	2

Free Practice 3 Classification

2005 United States Grand Prix FP3, 18 June 2005

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	10	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren	1:10.726	4
2	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+1.043s	11
3	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+1.112s	9
4	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	+1.683s	7
5	18	Tiago Monteiro	Jordan	+2.673s	12
6	19	Narain Karthikeyan	Jordan	+3.038s	12
7	20	Patrick Friesacher	Minardi	+3.846s	16
8	21	Christijan Albers	Minardi	+4.438s	6
9	11	Jacques Villeneuve	Sauber	No time	7
10	9	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	No time	6
11	3	Jenson Button	BAR	No time	7
12	4	Takuma Sato	BAR	No time	6
13	8	Nick Heidfeld	Williams	No time	5
14	6	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	No time	6
15	7	Mark Webber	Williams	No time	4
16	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	No time	7
17	5	Fernando Alonso	Renault	No time	4
18	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	No time	4
19	17	Ricardo Zonta	Toyota	No time	1

Free Practice 4 Classification

2005 United States Grand Prix FP4, 18 June 2005

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	9	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:10.643	12
2	3	Jenson Button	BAR	+0.201s	15
3	5	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+0.277s	10
4	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.560s	12
5	4	Takuma Sato	BAR	+0.681s	16
6	6	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	+0.732s	10
7	16	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	+0.814s	7
8	10	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren	+0.931s	7
9	17	Ricardo Zonta	Toyota	+1.117s	10
10	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+1.151s	13
11	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	+1.163s	13
12	11	Jacques Villeneuve	Sauber	+1.232s	10
13	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	+1.272s	10
14	7	Mark Webber	Williams	+1.437s	9
15	8	Nick Heidfeld	Williams	+1.543s	10
16	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	+2.271s	7
17	21	Christijan Albers	Minardi	+2.381s	16
18	18	Tiago Monteiro	Jordan	+2.408s	14
19	19	Narain Karthikeyan	Jordan	+2.518s	11
20	20	Patrick Friesacher	Minardi	+2.858s	16

Qualifying

Jarno Trulli produced an outstanding lap to claim Toyota’s first Formula 1 pole, ahead of Kimi Räikkönen and Jenson Button. It was a striking result after the team’s disrupted practice, though Jarno Trulli acknowledged that the tyre situation remained unresolved. Giancarlo Fisichella and Michael Schumacher completed the first five.

Fernando Alonso qualified sixth, while Ricardo Zonta took thirteenth after running first on a slippery track. Jarno Trulli remains the official pole-sitter even though he did not start the race. The six eventual starters retained their original grid positions; Michael Schumacher was therefore the foremost car when the lights went out.

Qualifying Classification

2005 United States Grand Prix Qualifying, 18 June 2005

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	16	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	1:10.625	3
2	9	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:10.694	3
3	3	Jenson Button	BAR	1:11.277	3
4	6	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	1:11.290	3
5	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:11.369	3
6	5	Fernando Alonso	Renault	1:11.380	3
7	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	1:11.431	3
8	4	Takuma Sato	BAR	1:11.497	3
9	7	Mark Webber	Williams	1:11.527	3
10	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	1:11.555	3
11	10	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren	1:11.681	3
12	11	Jacques Villeneuve	Sauber	1:11.691	3
13	17	Ricardo Zonta	Toyota	1:11.754	3
14	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	1:12.132	3
15	8	Nick Heidfeld	Williams	1:12.430	3
16	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	1:12.682	3
17	18	Tiago Monteiro	Jordan	1:13.462	3
18	21	Christijan Albers	Minardi	1:13.632	3
19	19	Narain Karthikeyan	Jordan	1:13.776	3
20	20	Patrick Friesacher	Minardi	1:14.494	3

What happened in the 2005 United States Grand Prix?

Michelin could not guarantee its tyres for the race at normal speed through the banking. Discussions over alternatives, including a proposed chicane, failed to produce an agreed solution. All 14 Michelin-shod cars returned to the pits after the formation lap, leaving the six Bridgestone runners to start amid boos from the grandstands.

The Ferraris quickly pulled away from Jordan and Minardi. Rubens Barrichello led during the pit-stop sequence, but Michael Schumacher emerged alongside him after a later stop and retained the advantage as Rubens Barrichello ran onto the grass. Both were then urged to avoid taking unnecessary risks.

Schumacher won from Rubens Barrichello, with Tiago Monteiro taking his first podium ahead of Narain Karthikeyan. Christijan Albers and Patrick Friesacher brought both Minardis home in the points. Every starter finished, but the six-car race became one of Formula 1’s most damaging episodes, overwhelming the sporting significance of Ferrari’s only victory that season.

After the race, Fernando Alonso headed the drivers’ standings with 59 points, followed by Kimi Räikkönen on 37. Renault led the constructors’ table on 76, with McLaren on 63.

2005 United States Grand Prix race results

The 2005 United States Grand Prix was held on 19 June 2005, with a scheduled start of 13:00 local time.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	73	1:29:43.181	10
2	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	73	+1.522	8
3	18	Tiago Monteiro	Jordan	72	+1 lap	6
4	19	Narain Karthikeyan	Jordan	72	+1 lap	5
5	21	Christijan Albers	Minardi	71	+2 laps	4
6	20	Patrick Friesacher	Minardi	71	+2 laps	3
DNS	16	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	0	Withdrew (tyres)	0
DNS	9	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	0	Withdrew (tyres)	0
DNS	3	Jenson Button	BAR	0	Withdrew (tyres)	0
DNS	6	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	0	Withdrew (tyres)	0
DNS	5	Fernando Alonso	Renault	0	Withdrew (tyres)	0
DNS	4	Takuma Sato	BAR	0	Withdrew (tyres)	0
DNS	7	Mark Webber	Williams	0	Withdrew (tyres)	0
DNS	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	0	Withdrew (tyres)	0
DNS	10	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren	0	Withdrew (tyres)	0
DNS	11	Jacques Villeneuve	Sauber	0	Withdrew (tyres)	0
DNS	17	Ricardo Zonta	Toyota	0	Withdrew (tyres)	0
DNS	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	0	Withdrew (tyres)	0
DNS	8	Nick Heidfeld	Williams	0	Withdrew (tyres)	0
DNS	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	0	Withdrew (tyres)	0

2005 United States Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time	Avg. Speed
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	48	1:11.497	211.074
2	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	48	1:11.649	210.626
3	18	Tiago Monteiro	Jordan	44	1:13.237	206.059
4	19	Narain Karthikeyan	Jordan	65	1:13.370	205.686
5	21	Christijan Albers	Minardi	2	1:13.907	204.191
6	20	Patrick Friesacher	Minardi	43	1:14.490	202.593

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

2005 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings

Championship standings after the 2005 United States Grand Prix.

2005 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Fernando Alonso	Spanish	Renault	59
2	Kimi Räikkönen	Finnish	McLaren	37
3	Michael Schumacher	German	Ferrari	34
4	Rubens Barrichello	Brazilian	Ferrari	29
5	Jarno Trulli	Italian	Toyota	27
6	Nick Heidfeld	German	Williams	25
7	Mark Webber	Australian	Williams	22
8	Ralf Schumacher	German	Toyota	20
9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Italian	Renault	17
10	David Coulthard	British	Red Bull Racing	17
11	Juan Pablo Montoya	Colombian	McLaren	16
12	Felipe Massa	Brazilian	Sauber	7
13	Tiago Monteiro	Portuguese	Jordan	6
14	Alexander Wurz	Austrian	McLaren	6
15	Jacques Villeneuve	Canadian	Sauber	5
16	Narain Karthikeyan	Indian	Jordan	5
17	Christijan Albers	Dutch	Minardi	4
18	Pedro de la Rosa	Spanish	McLaren	4
19	Christian Klien	Austrian	Red Bull Racing	4
20	Patrick Friesacher	Austrian	Minardi	3
21	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Italian	Red Bull Racing	1
22	Jenson Button	British	BAR	0
23	Takuma Sato	Japanese	BAR	0
–	Ricardo Zonta	Brazilian	Toyota	0
–	Anthony Davidson	British	BAR	0

2005 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	Renault	76
2	McLaren	63
3	Ferrari	63
4	Williams	47
5	Toyota	47
6	Red Bull Racing	22
7	Sauber	12
8	Jordan	11
9	Minardi	7
10	BAR	0

2005 Formula 1 Race Calendar

Round	Grand Prix	Circuit	Date
1	2005 Australian Grand Prix	Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne	6 March
2	2005 Malaysian Grand Prix	Sepang International Circuit, Sepang	20 March
3	2005 Bahrain Grand Prix	Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir	3 April
4	2005 San Marino Grand Prix	Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola	24 April
5	2005 Spanish Grand Prix	Circuit de Catalunya, Montmeló	8 May
6	2005 Monaco Grand Prix	Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo	22 May
7	2005 European Grand Prix	Nürburgring, Nürburg	29 May
8	2005 Canadian Grand Prix	Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Montréal	12 June
9	2005 United States Grand Prix	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis	19 June
10	2005 French Grand Prix	Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny-Cours	3 July
11	2005 British Grand Prix	Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone	10 July
12	2005 German Grand Prix	Hockenheimring, Hockenheim	24 July
13	2005 Hungarian Grand Prix	Hungaroring, Mogyoród	31 July
14	2005 Turkish Grand Prix	Istanbul Park, Istanbul	21 August
15	2005 Italian Grand Prix	Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza	4 September
16	2005 Belgian Grand Prix	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot	11 September
17	2005 Brazilian Grand Prix	Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo	25 September
18	2005 Japanese Grand Prix	Suzuka International Racing Course, Suzuka	9 October
19	2005 Chinese Grand Prix	Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai	16 October