Schumacher rules out safety-first approach

Michael Schumacher has vowed to roar into the record books in style by landing his sixth drivers crown with victory in the title decider in Japan next week.

The German is on the brink of history following yesterday’s win in the United States Grand Prix which left him needing just one point in Suzuka to finally beat the record he shares with Juan Manuel Fangio.

But Schumacher – who leads sole remaining rival Kimi Raikkonen by nine points - insists he will not adopt a safety-first approach in his Ferrari on Sunday week.

“My target will be to win another race,” said Schumacher after capitalising on the changing weather conditions at Indianapolis to beat Raikkonen by 18 seconds and see Colombia’s Juan Pablo Montoya knocked out of contention.

“Obviously I am in a very good position starting the last race needing just one point, basically. But you never know – first we have to finish. But on the other side, I think we have a very reliable car.”

Raikkonen was well in control after haring away from pole at the start of the 73-lap race with Schumacher struggling early on, but once the rain intervened the tyre advantage switched to Ferrari.

The 23-year-old Finn fought back in the later stages to snatch second spot from the Sauber of Germany’s Heinz-Harald Frentzen to maintain a chance of becoming the youngest driver in history to win the title – but it is a very thin one!

“The weather basically lost us the race,” said Raikkonen. “I was in control but we were not as quick in the wet conditions as Michael.

“The good news is that we still have a chance in Japan but it is much more difficult now. But I will give it my all as anything can happen in motor racing.”

Montoya left Indianapolis bitterly disappointed after seeing his challenge evaporate after a desperately disappointing afternoon for him and thousands of his fellow Colombians who helped boost the crowd to a massive 150,000.

The Williams driver paid for a premature overtaking move on Rubens Barrichello which sent the Ferrari into the gravel and landed him with a drive through penalty.

“A very disappointing race basically decided by the penalty I was given for the accident with Rubens and the moment I had to pay it,” said Montoya, whose sixth place left him 10 points behind Schumacher.

“It started to rain hard just when I was given my ’drive through’ penalty which forced me to delay by one lap my pit-stop to change tyres. It is sad to lose my championship chances, especially knowing I just needed to finish fifth to keep my hopes open.”

Team-mate Ralf Schumacher spun out allowing Ferrari to regain the lead in the Constructors’ championship by three points.

Frentzen made his first podium appearance in three years with third spot in what could be the penultimate race of his career.

Team-mate Nick Heidfeld was fifth behind Renault’s Jarno Trulli, while Jordan’s Giancarlo Fisichella was seventh with British rookie Justin Wilson scoring his maiden point in eight place for Jaguar.