Karthikeyan and Monteiro prove a ?point?

IF SOMEONE says Narain Karthikeyan came out smoking on Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway despite the US Grand Prix becoming a farce, please believe it literally.

IF SOMEONE says Narain Karthikeyan came out smoking on Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway despite the US Grand Prix becoming a farce, please believe it literally.

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This was a night when the entire Asian fan following --- a sizeable number at that --- did feel in the end that Narain's achievement got diluted because teams using Michelin tyres pulled out. But if you happened to see the start of the race, when the Jordan engine was smoking, the demons that Narain has not been able to exoricse, seemed to reappear.

Here is a man who gets ridiculed for almost everything he does. And after the end of the Sunday's race when he said, "These are my first Championship points in Formula One and it does not really matter how they come. Points are points," you have to grant it to him that he finished.

"This is the first time an Indian driver has scored points in Formula One, so I am happy. Due to the circumstances, our main job was not to make any mistakes and finish the race. My car was very reliable this weekend and I am very pleased with that." Well, when Narain talked of reliability, the obvious question was whether his yellow Jordan would last the distance.

Back to Narain and minnows Jordan, there is every reason for the drivers and the team to have mild celebrations even though the McLarens, Renaults and Toyota will still look at them condescendingly. Formula One is a circus but reality is the international body — FIA — deserved kudos for not coming under pressure from Michelin.

After all, despite not having the best speed demon on the track, they managed to compete, complete and finally earn championship points. Skills? Yes, Narain and Monteiro do have it in ample measure. That's the biggest plus one could see on Sunday.