The first international sporting event held in the United States after the September 11 attacks, marking Mika Häkkinen's 20th and final Formula One career victory.
Key Facts
- Race winner
- Mika Häkkinen (McLaren)
- Laps completed
- 73 laps
- Championship round
- 16th of 17 (penultimate)
- Days after Sept. 11 attacks
- 19 days
- Häkkinen career wins
- 20th and final victory
- Schumacher season points record
- Broke all-time season points record
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The 2001 Formula One World Championship calendar brought the United States Grand Prix to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the second consecutive year. The event took place just 19 days after the September 11 attacks, making it the first international sporting event held on American soil in the aftermath of those attacks.
On September 30, 2001, Mika Häkkinen started fourth and won the 73-lap race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Michael Schumacher led early before Rubens Barrichello took over, but Häkkinen's fuel strategy allowed him to assume the lead. Barrichello's race ended with engine failure two laps from the finish, confirming Häkkinen's victory ahead of Schumacher and David Coulthard.
Häkkinen's win proved to be the 20th and final victory of his Formula One career. Michael Schumacher broke the all-time record for most points scored in a single season, previously shared with Nigel Mansell. McLaren secured second place in the Constructors' Championship ahead of Williams with one round remaining, and Coulthard extended his lead over Barrichello for second in the Drivers' Championship.