17.06.2005 Just five days after taking the chequered flag in Montreal, Scuderia Ferrari was back on track in Indianapolis today

Just five days after taking the chequered flag in Montreal,  Scuderia Ferrari was back on track in Indianapolis today. After the Canadian race, the F2005 were rebuilt here in America, with new versions of the 055 engine fitted. The cars themselves are basically the same as those used by Michael and Rubens when they came second and third in Canada, apart from the obvious set-up changes to deal with the peculiar requirements of the Brickyard track, with its very long straight, followed by a slow infield section.

Both Ferrari men had a trouble-free Friday, getting through their entire programme of set-up work and tyre evaluation and they ended the day after the first two hours of free practice with the Brazilian third and the German fourth, behind the two McLaren-Mercedes of Juan Pablo Montoya and Canada winner Kimi Raikkonen. Nick Heidfeld was fifth for BMW-Williams and David Coulthard was sixth for Red Bull Racing.

American interest in F1 has been boosted this weekend by the appearance of Californian GP2 driver Scott Speed running the third Red Bull car and he finished eighth today. In a bizarre repeat of his accident here last year in a Williams, Ralf Schumacher again slammed a car into the wall at the final turn this afternoon. Thankfully, the crash caused by a loss of air pressure in a tyre, was far less serious than his 2004 accident and he was able to climb out of his Toyota unaided. The weather has been warm and sunny here in Indianapolis and although it clouded over in the late afternoon, the forecast for tomorrow’s qualifying session is dry and the two Ferrari men will be hoping to make the best of their late running positions, inherited from finishing on the Montreal podium.

Jean Todt : “We are happy to be here in Indianapolis and in the United States, which is our biggest market. Even if Formula 1 is not yet as big a draw as it is in other parts of the world, Ferrari is a very famous name here. Turning to the track now, it was the usual Friday. We worked on finding the best set-up, which requires a compromise between the section of the track on the oval and that on the infield, which is much slower. We also ran a comparison between the two types of tyre at our disposal. I have to say that, looking at the way things went today, we seem to have done a good job along with Bridgestone, in preparing for this weekend, at a track where we have always gone well.”

Rubens Barrichello : “It has been a long time since we have had such a good Friday. I am happy with the set-up, with the balance of the car and the Bridgestone tyres. We look much more competitive than we have done at some of the other races.
 

Just five days after taking the chequered flag in Montreal, the Scuderia Ferrari team was back on track in Indianapolis today
Just five days after taking the chequered flag in Montreal, the Scuderia Ferrari team was back on track in Indianapolis today

Both Ferrari drivrs had a trouble-free Friday, getting through their entire programme of set-up work and tyre evaluation and they ended the day after the first two hours of free practice with Barrichello in third  and  Schumacher  in  fourth

Just five days after taking the chequered flag in Montreal, the Scuderia Ferrari team was back on track in Indianapolis today
Just five days after taking the chequered flag in Montreal, the Scuderia Ferrari team was back on track in Indianapolis today

Just five days after taking the chequered flag in Montreal, the Ferrari team was back on the track, in Indianapolis, today


"We still have quite a bit of work to do to ensure we maintain this level in qualifying. I like this track and the atmosphere is very relaxed here. We had no problems today and that meant we were able to get through all our programme. Michael and I are doing similar lap times, even though we are running slightly different set-up on our cars. We have done well here in the past and let’s hope that continues this weekend.”

Michael Schumacher
: “Everything went quite well today and we were able to cure a balance problem I had early in the morning session. We are looking good for a Friday, especially if you compare our performance with that in Canada a week ago. The track seems much smoother with the new surface, particularly in the area of the start-finish line. Now we must wait and see what we can do in qualifying, when it will be good that I will be making my run towards the end of the session.

"As for Ralf’s accident, I was just coming back to the pits when it happened, so the first thing I knew about it was seeing him get out of the car unaided and walk away. I am glad he is okay and also glad that the modifications we asked for to be made to the wall were carried out, after his accident there last year.”

Ross Brawn : “We had a trouble-free practice today and we made good progress between the first and second sessions, making adjustments to the cars that seemed to work. We got through all our programme and made a good job of the tyre comparison task. We will have to study the data carefully now, but I think we know which of the two types of Bridgestone tyre we want to use. The softer tyre is obviously quicker, but it also seems consistent, so now we just have to do a projection to see what the wear figures are likely to be on Sunday afternoon.”

Free practice - First session: Michael Schumacher: 10th 1.13.242 12 laps chassis 245; Rubens Barrichello: 11th 1.13.245 12 laps chassis 246; Temperatures: air 24 °C, track 34 °C

Free practice – Second session: Rubens Barrichello: 3rd 1.11.746 22 laps chassis 246; Michael Schumacher: 4th 1.11.758 22 laps chassis 245; Temperatures: air 24 °C, track 36/34 °C
 

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