How Michael Schumacher’s win at Indianapolis reignited Ferrari’s 2000 F1 championship hopes

How Michael Schumacher’s win at Indianapolis reignited Ferrari’s 2000 F1 championship hopes. Relive the 2000 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis.

Once upon a time, the United States Grand Prix took place at Indianapolis (from 1950 to 1960 and then from 2000 to 2007). A track full of charm and history, rivaling others in the United States, including Austin, for its unique appeal. Indianapolis has countless stories to tell, including the one from the year it returned to the Formula 1 calendar — a year that marked the beginning of a new millennium and a new sporting era.

Indianapolis 2000: The story of the race
On September 24, 2000, Formula 1 returned to the Indianapolis circuit for the first time in 40 years. As the championship reached the 15th of 17 rounds, the focus of the paddock was entirely on an epic title fight, featuring Michael Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen in the Drivers’ Championship, with Ferrari and McLaren battling in the Constructors’ standings.

It is important to remember that “the Kaiser,” driving the Ferrari, began the season masterfully, securing four wins in the first six races. However, in the second half of the season, Michael Schumacher faced a dark period. With just one victory and five retirements, Michael collected only 10 points in the following six Grands Prix — a disappointing tally that shook the Ferrari environment. The championship, which had eluded Maranello since 1979, seemed once again out of reach.

Mika Hakkinen took advantage of this slump, closing the gap and eventually overtaking Schumacher in the standings with wins in Hungary and Belgium. Even a home victory for Michael Schumacher at Monza was not enough; by the time the teams arrived in Indianapolis, the “Flying Finn” led the championship by two points.

In Saturday qualifying, Michael secured pole position, beating the McLarens of Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard. The opening laps of the race on a wet track proved challenging for the Ferrari driver. Coulthard overtook Schumacher with a jump-start — an infraction later penalized with a stop-and-go — but the Scot initially played team tactics, slowing Schumacher as much as possible before giving the position back on lap six.

Mika Hakkinen tried desperately to fight back. But on lap 26, the moment that would change the championship unfolded: the engine of McLaren number 1 blew, abruptly ending the Finn’s hopes.

Schumacher crossed the finish line first, ahead of teammate Rubens Barrichello in the second Ferrari and Jordan’s Heinz-Harald Frentzen in third. This result returned Schumacher to the top of the Drivers’ Championship, with an eight-point lead over Mika Hakkinen, and restored Ferrari to the top of the Constructors’ standings, ten points ahead of McLaren.

In hindsight, the Indianapolis race proved decisive in Michael Schumacher’s path to becoming World Champion. After this victory, the German driver controlled his destiny: a win at Suzuka would secure the title.

Today, 25 years later, we all know how the story ended. But this remains one of the unforgettable tales of Formula 1 history.