Jordan pins hopes on good showing at Indy to lift disappointing season

TEAM chief Eddie Jordan is banking on a legion of American fans to boost his squad’s chances of snatching fifth place in the constructors’ championship.

Jordan have endured a disappointing season so far, registering just seven points but their Irish boss hopes to change that at Indianapolis for the United States Grand Prix.

Jordan said: "Our first ever grand prix took place in the USA at Phoenix in 1991, so we always look forward to returning to the United States.

"I love racing here because the large Irish community is always so welcoming towards Jordan and we have a lot of American fans."

Lead driver Giancarlo Fisichella also hopes to increase his points tally. The Italian returned to Jordan over the winter after a stint with Benetton but has not enjoyed the success many expected and he wants to add to his seven points so far in the penultimate race of the season at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Fisichella said: "Indianapolis is a good circuit and quite different. I am happy and very proud to race in such a historical place because Indianapolis is one of the most important race venues in the world.

"I'm looking forward to racing here again and, hopefully, to score some points."

Team-mate Takuma Sato will make his Indy debut this weekend looking to score his maiden Formula One points after a season marred by accidents.

The Japanese racer said: "With only two races to go, I am pushing as hard as ever for points I never give up."

Meanwhile Michael Schumacher rubbished claims that Ferrari are ruining Formula One amid fears of a dramatic reduction in spectators at this weekend's United States grand prix.

The third staging of the race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is expected to attract between 130,000-150,00 fans still making it the biggest attendance of the season.

But that figure is still short of the 175,000 who watched last year's grand prix in the wake of the terror attacks on September 11, and well-down on the 220,000 who witnessed the return of F1 to the United States in 2000.

Organisers blame the recession and a lack of interest caused by Ferrari's domination of the championship for fans and television viewers turning away in droves. The Italian team have won 13 of the 15 races so far with Michael Schumacher's record 10 triumphs seeing him romp to a fifth drivers' crown just 11 grand prix into the campaign.

But Schumacher hit-back at the critics by insisting: "I know its fashionable to talk about 'Formula yawn' and about Ferrari ruining Formula One with all its wins.

"I can only say that this view is far too superficial. The fact is that we have to fight for our victories.

"We can't just win whenever we please, just stroll through.

"I have not gone to a race once this season feeling confident of a win. And only that would be true dominance," he said.

Ferrari could equal McLaren's record of 15 wins if they triumph on Sunday and in the season finale in Japan, though the Surrey outfit achieved the feat in a 16-race campaign.

Schumacher and team-mate Rubens Barrichello have won the past eight races between them and finished one-two on their previous three outings seven in all this season including the crushing win in front of their home fans two weeks ago.

"I know it looked so easy again at the finish: two Ferraris at the front, with no competition and a long way ahead of the rest," said Schumacher of the race at Monza.

"An easy double victory. And all those who think that our supposed dominance is damaging the sport felt their opinion validated.

"I also felt validated, in my opinion, that we would have had to fight very hard for this dream result if our competition at BMW-Williams hadn't run into problems so early.

"If the engine in Ralf (Schumacher's) car hadn't exploded and Juan Pablo Montoya had not had other problems, then the Italian Grand Prix certainly would not have turned into such a dream race for us."

But Schumacher, who won the first race at Indy in 2000 and finished second to Mika Hakkinen last year, is not ruling out winning the last two grands prix.

"We have such a good car that of course it would be great if the last two races went in our favour," added the German.