Michael Schumacher's victory at the 2000 US Grand Prix shifted both the Drivers' and Constructors' Championship leads to Schumacher and Ferrari with two races remaining.
Key Facts
- Race winner
- Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
- Spectators
- 250,000
- Race distance
- 73 laps
- Schumacher's winning margin
- 12.1 seconds ahead of Barrichello
- Championship lead after race
- Schumacher led Häkkinen by 8 points
- Season win number for Schumacher
- 7th of season, 42nd career
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Heading into the race, McLaren's Mika Häkkinen held a two-point lead over Michael Schumacher in the Drivers' Championship and McLaren led Ferrari by four points in the Constructors' Championship. Coulthard's jump start earned him a ten-second stop-go penalty, and Häkkinen's race ended on lap 26 with a blown engine caused by a pneumatic valve system failure.
The 2000 SAP United States Grand Prix was held on September 24, 2000, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway before 250,000 spectators. Schumacher led from pole position, passed Coulthard on lap seven, and despite losing control of his Ferrari in the final five laps, completed 73 laps to win. Barrichello finished second 12.1 seconds back, and Frentzen took third ahead of Villeneuve.
Schumacher's victory reversed the championship standings, giving him an eight-point lead over Häkkinen in the Drivers' Championship and handing Ferrari a ten-point lead over McLaren in the Constructors' Championship with only two rounds left. Coulthard's fifth place mathematically eliminated him from Drivers' Championship contention.