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Renault seek to regain momentum
Fernando Alonso and his Renault are seeking to regain the momentum in the world championship chase.
Formula One points leader Fernando Alonso and his Renault team arrive at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this week seeking to regain the momentum in the world championship chase.
McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen of Finland took a bite out of Alonso's world championship lead with a victory in the Canadian Grand Prix last Sunday, when Alonso hit the wall at the Isle de Notre Dame circuit.
In another blow for Renault, Alonso's Italian teammate Giancarlo Fisichella failed to finish, suffering a hydraulics failure.
Alonso's crash marked the first time this season that the Spaniard had finished out of the points, and he hopes to make amends in Indianapolis with his fifth victory of the season.
"Indy is a very special track, with its very different parts, the high speed and the low speed," Alonso said. "I raced four times there, and I never crossed the finish line. I always had very bad luck at Indy - a lot of mechanical problems.
"So this year, with everything going well and all the luck with me, I really hope to finish. Indianapolis is a very historic track, and I really want to do well there."
The circuit used for the US Grand Prix at Indy incorporates portions of the famed 2.5 mile oval with an infield track.
While Alsonso would no doubt like to see his name added to the list of drivers to win at the Brickyard, he is likely more concerned to again stretch his lead over Raikkonen, who now trails him by just 22 points, 59-37, with 11 races remaining.
Renault lead the constructors' championship with 76 points to the 63 of McLaren-Mercedes, but McLaren historically have the edge at Indy.
"I think Indy should suit our car better than this place," Raikkonen said after his victory in Montreal. "Hopefully we can get both cars to the finish and try to catch up more on the Renaults."
Raikkonen's fellow Finn, Mika Hakkinen, won the 2002 US Grand Prix in a Mercedes-McLaren.
And his teammate, Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, had a shot at victory in Canada but was black-flagged for a pit lane violation.
Montoya is no stranger to success here, having won the Indianapolis 500 in 2000.
"I love Indianapolis," Montoya said. "I'm really looking forward to racing there."
World champion Michael Schumacher of Germany also has a history of success here. Last year he won by 2.9sec over Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello to become the first three-time winner of the US Grand Prix since it came to Indianapolis in 2000.
Ferrari, who have yet to win this year, were encouraged to finish second and third in Montreal, but team chief Jean Todt acknowledged they benefitted from the misfortunes of others.
"Several cars ahead of us retired, and the team also exploited the opportunity presented by a safety car period, but we still have 11 races to go and we will do our all to get back to where ware used to being," he said.
After his runner-up finish in Canada, Schumacher said he was looking forward to trying to go one better.
"It has been going well in the past," he said of Ferrari's history at Indy, "and I hope for a good race as well this year."
