2006 United States Grand Prix

The 2006 United States Grand Prix, advertised as the XXXV Vodafone United States Grand Prix, was the tenth round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana, USA, on 2 July 2006.'United States GP, 2006', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2014), https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr760.html, (Accessed 05/02/2020) The race, which was the first US Grand Prix to be held after the controversial events of the 2005 race, would be dominated by duo Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa.
Unlike the race twelve months before there were no tyre issues for the Michelin shod section of the field, with no failures during practice. This was largely attributed to the fact that the French manufacturer had brought harder tyres, as well as the decision to allow tyre changes during the Grand Prix itself.
Those changes to the Michelin tyre may have proved vital in qualifying, for Michael Schumacher led teammate Felipe Massa to a front-row lock-out for the Bridgestone shod s. Giancarlo Fisichella was best of the rest ahead of Rubens Barrichello, while Championship leader Fernando Alonso would start from fifth.
Unfortunately memories of the disasterous 2005 would re-emerge at the start of the race, for two accidents would drastically thin the field. Indeed, after Massa had out-dragged Schumacher to claim the lead at the head of the pack, a badly misjudged lunge from Christian Klien triggered a colossal accident.
The Austrian racer had decided to try the dusty inside line into turn one to dive past the two s, only to get caught out on the dust and slam into Mark Webber, before collecting Christijan Albers and being rammed by an unsighted Franck Montagny. That sent several cars scattering across the circuit and the grass at turn two, where Juan Pablo Montoya smashed into the back of teammate Kimi Räikkönen, prior to sliding into Jenson Button's which was sent into the side of Nick Heidfeld.
Heidfeld's exit was the most spectacular of all, for the was sent into a triple barrel roll before crashing back down in the grass right-side-up. The Safety Car was instantly called to clear up the mess, as Montoya, Räikkönen, Klien, Montagny, Heidfeld, Webber and Scott Speed walked back to the pits.
The restart came a few laps later, just in time to see Takuma Sato take Monteiro out of the equation, followed by an engine failure for Jacques Villeneuve. That incident, combined with collision damage curtailing the race of Button, meant that half the field were out with 50 laps still to run.
Ignorant of all of this, however, were the two Ferraris, which eased away from the two s at the restart to secure a dominant lead. Alonso briefly led the chase but lacked the pace to challenge, and would be ultimately instructed to allow teammate Fisichella through before the first stops. Indeed, so poor was the Spaniard's pace that he also slipped behind Barrichello and the two s.
With Massa leading Schumacher the question was whether the German's protege would be allowed to win, and given Ferrari's reputation that seemed to be an unlikely conclusion. Somewhat unsurprisingly the move would come during the first round of stops, with Schumacher stopping first on lap 29, before delivering an excellent out-lap to jump his teammate when the Brazilian stopped a lap alter.
That proved to be that for the race, barring a late retirement for Ralf Schumacher that brought the field down to just nine finishers. There would also be a late fight between David Coulthard, Vitantonio Liuzzi and Nico Rosberg, although that battle saw little physical battling.
Michael Schumacher hence claimed a dominant victory ahead of teammate Massa, the first Ferrari one-two since the 2005 US GP. Fisichella completed the podium ahead of Trulli and Alonso, with the rest of the points going to Barrichello, Coulthard and Liuzzi.
The race would prove to be the last Grand Prix start for Montoya, as the Colombian racer quit to prepare for NASCAR in 2007.
==Background==
At the halfway point in the FIA Formula One World Championship it was clear that Fernando Alonso was the overwhelming favourite to retain his title, having dropped just six points across the opening nine rounds. He left Canada with a huge 25 point lead over Michael Schumacher in second, and a 45 point advantage over Kimi Räikkönen in third. The half-term top five was then completed by Giancarlo Fisichella and Felipe Massa, with sixteen drivers having scored.
In the Constructors Championship it was who had command at the halfway mark, leaving Canada with 121 points and seven wins to their credit. were their closest challengers and the only other team to have claimed a race win, but faced a 34 point gap between themselves and the French squad. were likewise a distant third, well clear of fourth placed , with rounding out the mid-season top five.
===Entry list===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Fernando Alonso 	Mild Seven Renault F1 Team 	 	R26 	 	RS26 2.4 V8 	
2 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	Mild Seven Renault F1 Team 	 	R26 	 	RS26 2.4 V8 	
3 	Kimi Räikkönen 	Team McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4-21 	 	FO 108S 2.4 V8 	
4 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	Team McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4-21 	 	FO 108S 2.4 V8 	
5 	Michael Schumacher 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	248 F1 	 	056 2.4 V8 	
6 	Felipe Massa 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	248 F1 	 	056 2.4 V8 	
7 	Ralf Schumacher 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF106B 	 	RVX-06 2.4 V8 	
8 	Jarno Trulli 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF106B 	 	RVX-06 2.4 V8 	
9 	Mark Webber 	Williams F1 Team 	 	FW28 	 	CA2006 2.4 V8 	
10 	Nico Rosberg 	Williams F1 Team 	 	FW28 	 	CA2006 2.4 V8 	
11 	Rubens Barrichello 	Lucky Strike Honda Racing F1 Team 	 	RA106 	 	RA806E 2.4 V8 	
12 	Jenson Button 	Lucky Strike Honda Racing F1 Team 	 	RA106 	 	RA806E 2.4 V8 	
14 	David Coulthard 	Red Bull Racing 	 	RB2 	 	056 2.4 V8 	
15 	Christian Klien 	Red Bull Racing 	 	RB2 	 	056 2.4 V8 	
16 	Nick Heidfeld 	BMW Sauber F1 Team 	 	F1.06 	 	P86 2.4 V8 	
17 	Jacques Villeneuve 	BMW Sauber F1 Team 	 	F1.06 	 	P86 2.4 V8 	
18 	Tiago Monteiro 	MF1 Racing 	 	M16 	 	RVX-06 2.4 V8 	
19 	Christijan Albers 	MF1 Racing 	 	M16 	 	RVX-06 2.4 V8 	
20 	Vitantonio Liuzzi 	Scuderia Toro Rosso 	 	STR1 	 	TJ2006 3.0 V10 	
21 	Scott Speed 	Scuderia Toro Rosso 	 	STR1 	 	TJ2006 3.0 V10 	
22 	Takuma Sato 	Super Aguri F1 	 	SA05 	 	RA806E 2.4 V8 	
23 	Franck Montagny 	Super Aguri F1 	 	SA05 	 	RA806E 2.4 V8 	
Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only
35 	Alexander Wurz 	Williams F1 Team 	 	FW28 	 	CA2006 2.4 V8 	
36 	Anthony Davidson 	Lucky Strike Honda Racing F1 Team 	 	RA106 	 	RA806E 2.4 V8 	
37 	Robert Doornbos 	Red Bull Racing 	 	RB2 	 	056 2.4 V8 	
38 	Robert Kubica 	BMW Sauber F1 Team 	 	F1.06 	 	P86 2.4 V8 	
39 	Giorgio Mondini 	MF1 Racing 	 	M16 	 	RVX-06 2.4 V8 	
40 	Neel Jani 	Scuderia Toro Rosso 	 	STR1 	 	TJ2006 3.0 V10 	
41 	Sakon Yamamoto 	Super Aguri F1 	 	SA05 	 	RA806E 2.4 V8 	
Source:'USA 2006: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/etats-unis.aspx, (Accessed 05/02/2020)	Source:'USA 2006: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/etats-unis.aspx, (Accessed 05/02/2020)	Source:'USA 2006: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/etats-unis.aspx, (Accessed 05/02/2020)	Source:'USA 2006: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/etats-unis.aspx, (Accessed 05/02/2020)	Source:'USA 2006: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/etats-unis.aspx, (Accessed 05/02/2020)	Source:'USA 2006: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/etats-unis.aspx, (Accessed 05/02/2020)	Source:'USA 2006: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/etats-unis.aspx, (Accessed 05/02/2020)	Source:'USA 2006: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/etats-unis.aspx, (Accessed 05/02/2020)
==Practice Overview==
==Qualifying==
===Q1===
===Q2===
===Q3===
===Qualifying Results===
The full qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Team 	 	Q1 	Q1 	 	Q2 	Q2 	 	Q3 	Q3 	Grid
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Team 	 	Pos. 	Time 	 	Pos. 	Time 	 	Pos. 	Time 	Grid
1 	5 	Michael Schumacher 	 	 	2 	1:11.588 	 	1 	1:10.636 	 	1 	1:10.832 	1
2 	6 	Felipe Massa 	 	 	1 	1:11.088 	 	2 	1:11.146 	 	2 	1:11.435 	2
3 	2 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	 	8 	1:12.287 	 	3 	1:11.200 	 	3 	1:11.920 	3
4 	11 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	 	6 	1:12.156 	 	4 	1:11.263 	 	4 	1:12.109 	4
5 	1 	Fernando Alonso 	 	 	9 	1:12.416 	 	9 	1:11.877 	 	5 	1:12.449 	5
6 	17 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	 	5 	1:12.114 	 	7 	1:11.724 	 	6 	1:12.479 	6
7 	12 	Jenson Button 	 	 	7 	1:12.238 	 	8 	1:11.865 	 	7 	1:12.523 	7
8 	7 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	 	3 	1:11.879 	 	5 	1:11.673 	 	8 	1:12.795 	8
9 	3 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	 	14 	1:12.777 	 	10 	1:12.135 	 	9 	1:13.174 	9
10 	16 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	 	4 	1:11.891 	 	6 	1:11.718 	 	10 	1:15.280 	10
11 	4 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	 	 	10 	1:12.477 	 	11 	1:12.150 	 	 	 	11
12 	9 	Mark Webber 	 	 	15 	1:12.935 	 	12 	1:12.292 	 	 	 	12
13 	21 	Scott Speed 	 	 	16 	1:13.167 	 	13 	1:12.792 	 	 	 	13
14 	19 	Christijan Albers 	 	 	12 	1:12.711 	 	14 	1:12.854 	 	 	 	14
15 	18 	Tiago Monteiro 	 	 	11 	1:12.627 	 	15 	1:12.864 	 	 	 	15
16 	15 	Christian Klien 	 	 	13 	1:12.773 	 	16 	1:12.925 	 	 	 	16
17 	14 	David Coulthard 	 	 	17 	1:13.180 	 	 	 	 	 	 	17
18 	22 	Takuma Sato 	 	 	18 	1:13.496 	 	 	 	 	 	 	18
19* 	10 	Nico Rosberg 	 	 	19 	1:13.506 	 	 	 	 	 	 	21
20† 	8 	Jarno Trulli 	 	 	20 	1:13.787 	 	 	 	 	 	 	PL
21‡ 	20 	Vitantonio Liuzzi 	 	 	21 	1:14.041 	 	 	 	 	 	 	20
22 	23 	Franck Montagny 	 	 	22 	1:16.036 	 	 	 	 	 	 	19
Source:'2006 FORMULA 1™ United States Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2006/races/799/united-states/qualifying.html, (Accessed 05/02/2020)	Source:'2006 FORMULA 1™ United States Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2006/races/799/united-states/qualifying.html, (Accessed 05/02/2020)	Source:'2006 FORMULA 1™ United States Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2006/races/799/united-states/qualifying.html, (Accessed 05/02/2020)	Source:'2006 FORMULA 1™ United States Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2006/races/799/united-states/qualifying.html, (Accessed 05/02/2020)	Source:'2006 FORMULA 1™ United States Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2006/races/799/united-states/qualifying.html, (Accessed 05/02/2020)	Source:'2006 FORMULA 1™ United States Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2006/races/799/united-states/qualifying.html, (Accessed 05/02/2020)	Source:'2006 FORMULA 1™ United States Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2006/races/799/united-states/qualifying.html, (Accessed 05/02/2020)	Source:'2006 FORMULA 1™ United States Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2006/races/799/united-states/qualifying.html, (Accessed 05/02/2020)	Source:'2006 FORMULA 1™ United States Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2006/races/799/united-states/qualifying.html, (Accessed 05/02/2020)	Source:'2006 FORMULA 1™ United States Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2006/races/799/united-states/qualifying.html, (Accessed 05/02/2020)	Source:'2006 FORMULA 1™ United States Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2006/races/799/united-states/qualifying.html, (Accessed 05/02/2020)	Source:'2006 FORMULA 1™ United States Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2006/races/799/united-states/qualifying.html, (Accessed 05/02/2020)	Source:'2006 FORMULA 1™ United States Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2006/races/799/united-states/qualifying.html, (Accessed 05/02/2020)	Source:'2006 FORMULA 1™ United States Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2006/races/799/united-states/qualifying.html, (Accessed 05/02/2020)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car to set their best time in that session.
*Bold indicates the fastest driver's time in each session.
** Rosberg was retroactively excluded from the results of qualifying for ignoring an instruction from the officials.
*† Trulli was to start the race from the pitlane after changing his suspension outside of Parc Fermé conditions.
*‡ Liuzzi was awarded a ten place grid penalty for changing his engine.
===Grid===
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	5 	Michael Schumacher 	 	73 	1:34:35.199 	1 	10
2 	6 	Felipe Massa 	 	73 	+7.984s 	2 	8
3 	2 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	73 	+16.595s 	3 	6
4 	8 	Jarno Trulli 	 	73 	+23.604s 	PL 	5
5 	1 	Fernando Alonso 	 	73 	+28.410s 	5 	4
6 	11 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	73 	+36.513s 	4 	3
7 	14 	David Coulthard 	 	72 	+1 Lap 	17 	2
8 	20 	Vitantonio Liuzzi 	 	72 	+1 Lap 	20 	1
9 	10 	Nico Rosberg 	 	72 	+1 Lap 	21 	
Ret 	7 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	62 	Wheel bearing 	8 	
Ret 	19 	Christijan Albers 	 	37 	Transmission 	14 	
Ret 	17 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	23 	Engine 	6 	
Ret 	18 	Tiago Monteiro 	 	9 	Collision damage 	15 	
Ret 	22 	Takuma Sato 	 	6 	Collision 	18 	
Ret 	12 	Jenson Button 	 	3 	Collision damage 	7 	
Ret 	3 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	0 	Collision 	9 	
Ret 	16 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	0 	Collision 	10 	
Ret 	4 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	 	0 	Collision 	11 	
Ret 	9 	Mark Webber 	 	0 	Collision 	12 	
Ret 	21 	Scott Speed 	 	0 	Collision 	13 	
Ret 	15 	Christian Klien 	 	0 	Collision 	16 	
Ret 	23 	Franck Montagny 	 	0 	Collision 	19 	
Source:'USA 2006: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/etats-unis/classement.aspx, (Accessed 05/02/2020)	Source:'USA 2006: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/etats-unis/classement.aspx, (Accessed 05/02/2020)	Source:'USA 2006: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/etats-unis/classement.aspx, (Accessed 05/02/2020)	Source:'USA 2006: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/etats-unis/classement.aspx, (Accessed 05/02/2020)	Source:'USA 2006: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/etats-unis/classement.aspx, (Accessed 05/02/2020)	Source:'USA 2006: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/etats-unis/classement.aspx, (Accessed 05/02/2020)	Source:'USA 2006: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/etats-unis/classement.aspx, (Accessed 05/02/2020)	Source:'USA 2006: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/etats-unis/classement.aspx, (Accessed 05/02/2020)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
==Milestones==
* 94th and final Grand Prix start for Juan Pablo Montoya.'10. USA 2006', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/etats-unis.aspx, (Accessed 05/02/2020)
* Nico Rosberg and Scott Speed made their tenth Grand Prix start.
* 750th individual entry for a engine.[Archived] '2006 United States GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), https://web.archive.org/web/20190410084242/http://chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=2006&gp=United%20States%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 05/02/2020) - Original
* 500th entry for a car with #23 as its race number.
* Michael Schumacher secured his 87th career victory.
* 186th win for as a constructor and engine supplier.
* claimed their first point as a constructor.
==Standings==
For the first time in Fernando Alonso had failed to finish in the top two in the Championship, and hence had seen his title lead reduced. However, the Spaniard had still scored points, and so the damage done to his lead by race winner Michael Schumacher had been minimal, the German ace only closing the gap to nineteen points. Behind, Giancarlo Fisichella had moved ahead of Kimi Räikkönen after the Finn's retirement, while Felipe Massa had gained ground on both in fifth.
In the Constructors Championship the US Grand Prix had been a hugely beneficial day for , who closed the gap to the leaders and broke through the 100 point barrier. However, the Scuderia would remain 26 points behind at the end of the weekend, and had therefore only really enhanced their grip on second. Indeed, a double non-score for had left them in a now distant third, while were on the board for the first time in ninth.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Fernando Alonso 	88 	
2 	Michael Schumacher 	69 	
3 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	43 	1
4 	Kimi Räikkönen 	39 	1
5 	Felipe Massa 	36 	
6 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	26 	
7 	Jenson Button 	16 	
8 	Rubens Barrichello 	16 	
9 	Nick Heidfeld 	12 	
10 	David Coulthard 	10 	
11 	Ralf Schumacher 	8 	
12 	Jarno Trulli 	8 	3
13 	Jacques Villeneuve 	7 	1
14 	Mark Webber 	6 	1
15 	Nico Rosberg 	4 	1
16 	Vitantonio Liuzzi 	1 	2
17 	Christian Klien 	1 	1
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	131 	
2 	 	105 	
3 	 	65 	
4 	 	32 	
5 	 	19 	
6 	 	16 	
7 	 	11 	1
8 	 	10 	1
8 	 	1 	
Only point scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos:
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References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:2006 Grands Prix
Category:United States Grand Prix
Category:Formula One races in the United States