Schumacher celebrates another victory

Michael Schumacher was today finally able to savour his latest grand prix triumph after learning younger brother Ralf is to return home.

Michael was understandably the most concerned person at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway yesterday upon being told of Ralf’s 200mph smash during the United States Grand Prix.

For nine laps under the safety car, Michael led the Formula One field past Ralf sitting in his battered BMW Williams as he was attended to by trackside doctors.

The six-times world champion revealed his concentration had disappeared for those few agonising laps throughout which he was trying to obtain information with regard to Ralf’s condition.

Remarkably, and as further testimony to the strength of today’s Formula One cars, Ralf sustained nothing more than back pain and bruising, although the psychological scars may take a while longer to heal.

But after spending the night under precautionary observation in a city hospital, Ralf was today discharged and will be heading back to Salzburg this afternoon.

The 28-year-old, though, is out of a three-day test which begins in Jerez on Wednesday, and could potentially miss the French Grand Prix at Magny Cours early next month.

Elder brother Michael, meanwhile, can now look forward to building on a dominant season which has seen him win eight of the nine grands prix, with yesterday’s victory the 78th of his astonishing career.

“Formula One is the ultimate motor racing sport,” reflected Schumacher, who led a Ferrari one-two with Rubens Barrichello for the third successive race.

“We are in a position where we can be proud of being in the Ferrari team, and to win with Ferrari is just the best thing that can happen to you.

“We are such a great team and for that success we have had to work very hard. I know each of us in the team does that, and when you win, it’s exciting; a big thrill.

“It doesn’t matter how long I have been racing, each win is different.

“In this race, it was a hard work-out because Rubens pushed very hard. He was quick all weekend, and because of that I wasn’t really expecting the win.

“I thought I would have to settle for eight points, so to get the victory gives me extra pleasure.”

At this halfway stage of the season, with Schumacher 18 points clear of Barrichello in the drivers’ standings and Ferrari a virtually unassailable 76 points ahead of Renault in the constructors’ title race, managing director Jean Todt is still preaching caution.

“Every race is a big fight, a big battle, because we are facing strong competition,” said Todt.

“We must be very humble because it’s very difficult. We have a lot of competitors who are very strong.

“The biggest manufacturers in the world are involved in F1, and if they are involved it is to succeed, to win.

“So you can imagine the pressure we have behind us, although I hope we will be able to win more races, and of course to win the championship.

“It is true to say it seems as though we’re in a good situation in the championship now, but there are still many things that can happen. We have to be very focused, very concentrated, and very cautious.”