Schumacher closes in on record sixth title

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER won the United States Grand Prix yesterday, withstanding rain showers and challenges from his two rivals for the crown to virtually guarantee an unprecedented sixth Formula One world championship.

The 34-year-old German captured his sixth victory of the season and second in a row despite starting seventh, but pole-sitter Kimi Raikkonen’s runner-up effort denied the Ferrari driver his fourth successive title.

Schumacher now has 92 points to 83 for Finland’s Raikkonen, whose only chance at thwarting Schumacher is to guide his McLaren Mercedes to victory October 12 in the season-ending Japanese Grand Prix while the German finishes ninth or worse.