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Formula One: News and Notes from F1

11 September 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Getting ready for Indy: The Formula One drivers will all be racing on the new road course at the Brickyard in the inaugural SAP United States Grand Prix in two weeks. How will they prepare for a track they have never raced on before?

Rubens Barrichello, "I drive the track on the PlayStation." Ralf Schumacher: "I will go there (Indianapolis) as early as possible, and do a lap on a bike or what ever car I can get to see and memorize the corners. That is all you can do."

Jenson Button: "Because I dont know a lot of the circuits this year, Ive tried a few things. The best thing is to arrive as soon as you can, walk or ride around the circuit. Then in practice get out as soon as possible, which Im sure everybody else will, too."

Jean Alesi: "In the past I did one lap (of the Indianapolis oval) in a (tour) bus. I hope to be faster this time!"

The Road to Indy: The F1 teams all have a demanding schedule as they prepare for the SAP United States Grand Prix.

The teams based in England planned to drive their transporters non-stop back to their factories and arrive by Monday night, Sept. 11. They then will have only three days to rebuild and prepare all their cars and equipment before it is due at the airport on Thursday evening, Sept. 14, to be loaded on the cargo jets for the flight to Indianapolis.

Hondas 200th: This race marked the 200th Grand Prix start for Honda, which has participated in Formula One from 1964-68 (as a constructor of both the chassis and the engine), and from 1983-92 and from 2000 onward as an engine partner. In that time, Honda won six Constructors Championships, five Drivers Championships, 71 Grands Prix and 74 pole positions.

"The 200th race is a significant milestone, and as a company we are proud of our F1 achievements," said Takefumi Hosaka, F1 project leader and managing director of Honda R&D. "Racing is Hondas DNA. We have always aimed high, and through the years F1 has represented the greatest challenge to our engineers."

Text provided by Paul Kelly

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.