SKIING

No Defending Race Winner for Upcoming US Grand Prix

With the first race on North American soil coming up, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is preparing to host the 2007 Formula One season. While the first North American race will be the Canadian Grand Prix, the track is already being prepared for the fastest cars in the world. The Grand Prix du Canada is scheduled to take place at the Circuit Gilles Villneuve in Montreal on the tenth of June while the United States Grand Prix is scheduled on the 17th of the month.

This year’s United States Grand Prix will have no defending race winner since last year’s winner, the seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, retired after last year’s season. The German driver has the record for the most wins at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. His last team before he retired, Ferrari, holds the most number of wins at the said race at nine victories.

Of all the seven races held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Schumacher won five and Rubens Barichello and Mika Hakkinen each with one win. This year, only Barichello will be the past winner at the circuit who will be racing on the 17th of this month. Hakkinen retired after his win at the famed speedway in 2001.

The win that Barichello had on the United States Grand Prix is filled with controversy since Schumacher obviously slowed down to let his then teammate take the win. The said move is said to be payback for Barichello since he was ordered to let Schumacher win the Austrian Grand Prix to solidify his grasp on the lead at the driver’s championship during the 2002 Formula One season. The incident at the Austrian Grand Prix forced the FIA to take steps to prohibit teams from implementing team orders.

This year’s United States Grand Prix will be hosting a different cast of drivers since Formula One drivers have changed teams after the retirement of Schumacher. After the departure of the iconic driver, Kimi Raikkonen left McLaren to join Ferrari. He joined Felipe Massa who was the runner-up in last year’s United States Grand Prix.

For McLaren, two-time defending champion Fernando Alonso went on board leaving Renault. He was joined by the youngest driver to secure a Formula One contract – Lewis Hamilton. The young British driver is currently sharing the top spot with Alonso in the driver’s championship. The domination of the duo is evident in the fact that Team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes leads the constructor’s championship. The cars used by these two drivers are regarded as the best cars so far this season even without the use of performance enhancing parts such as Accel parts.

With Alonso leaving Renault, the team promoted test driver Heikki Kovalainen as a full time driver. He joined Giancarlo Fisichella who is currently on his third season with Renault. Aside from the aforementioned changes, other drivers who switched teams are Mark Weber, who jumped from Williams to Red Bull, and Alex Wurz who is making his return to Formula One after a hiatus. Wurz joined the Williams team and filled the seat vacated by Weber. Wurz joins Nico Rosberg who is making his second season appearance for Williams.

About the Author

Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive.buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.

Mika Hakkinen Classic Comments

Autosport 15/2/07; McLaren, Ferrari, Rally Sweden; DTM, Mika Hakkinen; Carlin $3.95

MIKA HAKKINEN 1/18 MCLAREN MP4 15 HOT WHEELS $29.99

AUTOSPORT-UK-FORMULA 1-NASCAR-F1-CARS-mika hakkinen-damon hill-FREE SHIPPING $0.99

AUTOSPORT-UK-FORMULA 1-NASCAR-F1-CARS-ferrari-mika hakkinen-I ship worldwide $0.99

AUTOSPORT-UK-FORMULA 1-NASCAR-F1-CARS-McLaren-mika hakkinen-I SHIP WORLD WIDE $0.99

TAG HEUER wrist watch magazine print ad – MIKA HAKKINEN $6.00

MINICHAMPS 1:18 MCLAREN MERCEDES MP4-98T MIKA & ERJA HAKKINEN 2000 530 981 878 $79.99

F1 Model in Box Frame-Hotwheels McLaren MP4-15 Mika Hakkinen, 2000. $71.90

Mika Hakkinen Formula 1 autograph, signed original photo, COA – Mika Häkkinen $48.00

2001 Mika Hakkinen F1 1/18 Mclaren Mercedes MP4/16 Mercedes Box Minichamps $120.00

1994 Mika Hakkinen photo Hugo Boss men’s clothes vintage print ad $9.99

McLaren-Mercedes MP4/15 – MIKA HAKKINEN #1 – Hot Wheels – 1:43 $27.99

Finland FDC 1999, Mika Hakkinen F1 World Champion Mint $10.00

june 2001 German Bravo Sport Formule 1 , Mika Hakkinen $0.99

MIKA HAKKINEN 10/04 F1 Racing JACKIE STEWART TAKU SATO $4.20

Hotwheels 1:18 McLaren Mercedes MP4-15 Mika Hakkinen 2000 $31.61

Mika Hakkinen Minichamps 1:43 McLaren Mercedes MP4/15 2000 $12.63

Mika Hakkinen McLaren Pitstop Print by W Lubach $39.51

Scalextric – Mclaren Mercedes #9 Mika Hakkinen – Nr. Mint $23.69

FINLAND, 1999 MIKA HAKKINEN FORMULA 1 SOUVENIR SHEET ON REG. COVER TO ISRAEL $0.99

MCLAREN MP4/9 BRAZILIAN GP 1994 MIKA HAKKINEN TAMEO KIT 1/43 TMK178 $375.00

MCLAREN MP4/11 AUSTRALIAN GP 1996 MIKA HAKKINEN TAMEO KIT 1/43 TMK211 $315.00

RARE Minichamps McLaren Mercedes MP4/14 TDI Mika Hakkinen $34.75

*** MIKA HAKKINEN – MC LAREN / MERCEDES – F1 *** poster $6.99

98-99 MIKA HAKKINEN F1 WORLD CHAMPION COVER, McLAREN 1 $6.46

98-99 MIKA HAKKINEN F1 WORLD CHAMPION COVER, McLAREN 2 $6.46

Michael Schumacher with Mika Hakkinen, 4 x 6 Photo #2253 $2.00

Finland 1998 Formula One Champion Mika Hakkinen McLaren FDC $18.00

Ayrton Senna with Mika Hakkinen, 4 x 6 Photo #2344 $1.99

1/43 F1 1998 McLAREN MERCEDES MP4/13 MIKA HAKKINEN WORLD CHAMPIONS COLLECTION $84.99

MIKA HAKKINEN – original autograph, McLaren Mercedes 2001, signed photo $49.99

Onyx F1 1991. 129 Lotus Judd 102B, Mika Hakkinen. MIB $7.89

Mika Hakkinen Hand Signed 8X12 Inches Formula 1 Photo Autographed $74.95

MIKA HAKKINEN STRIP OF 10 MINT F1 LEGEND STAMPS 5 $7.84

MIKA HAKKINEN STRIP OF 10 MINT F1 LEGEND STAMPS 4 $7.84

MIKA HAKKINEN STRIP OF 10 MINT F1 LEGEND STAMPS 2 $7.84

MIKA HAKKINEN STRIP OF 10 MINT F1 LEGEND STAMPS 3 $7.84

MIKA HAKKINEN STRIP OF 10 MINT F1 LEGEND STAMPS 1 $7.84

FORMULA ONE MCLAREN MP4 / 10B MIKA HAKKINEN 1995 $39.00

[backlinksmage]