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USGP race report, BMW Williams F1 Team

25 September 2000

US Grand Prix - RACE
              Indianapolis, 24th September 2000

Weather: Overcast and drizzly. Av. air temp. 14C. Av. track temp.  13C.
Unfulfilled promise at the US Grand Prix for the BMW WilliamsF1
Team as neither car saw the chequered flag.

Ralf Schumacher 
Position: Retired  
Chassis:  FW22 06 
Best Time:  1:15.598 on lap 55 (8th)
"I am very disappointed that I had to retire when I was second. We had
a problem with the engine air pressure system and I had to stop to
avoid a complete engine failure. In drying conditions I was one of the
quickest cars; I overtook quite a few cars and caught up to Hakkinen,
it was great!  I was able to keep up with Michael and - no doubt - I
would have been second. We had tremendous support from the US
crowd and driving at the Speedway has been a very positive
experience. I am looking forward to coming back here next year."

Jenson Button 
Position:  DNF
Chassis:  FW22 04 
Best Time:  1:22.977 on lap 12 (21st)
"I stopped when I was trying to overtake Barrichello on the straight. I
hit something and the engine just died. I am so sorry I could not finish
this race, the crowd has been fantastic here and the circuit is great. At
the beginning of the race I had a puncture due to contact with Trulli.
He was in front of me and from my point of view he was in the right
position, he wasn't moving around or anything. I got alongside him
and then maybe because of the braking it seemed to me that he
slightly crossed onto my side of the circuit and we touched."

Patrick Head (Technical Director WilliamsF1)
"Obviously a disappointing race for us. Jenson had a bump with Trulli
early on, which caused him to have a puncture. He stopped, put on
dry tyres and we think something might have been bent on the car but
anyway he was going very quickly and was in a good position, close
up behind Ralf when the car shut down on the straight. We don't know
what it is, we assume it's an electrical problem. Ralf was running a
very good race in a strong second place and had a pneumatic leak
somewhere in the pneumatic system that we were unable to
adequately recharge. So eventually after several attempts to refill the
system we decided to retire the car. What was pleasing is that the car
was going very well when it was running. Now we are heading out to
Japan and Malaysia and we have to get back to some points finishes."

Dr Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director)
"We had to call in Ralf as we experienced an air pressure leak in the
pneumatic valve system of his car. It is a true pity for us to have failed
on such a little thing because our whole package was particularly
quick and consistent here. Also Jenson was on a good pace and was
just behind Ralf, when he was stopped by an electrical problem. In
spite of the disappointing result it's good to know that we have closed
the gap to the top teams with regards to performance."

TEST: The BMW WilliamsF1 Team will be testing in Estoril from
Wednesday 27th to Friday 29th September. Jenson Button will be on
duty for the first two days with Ralf Schumacher taking over for the
last day.