2004 United States Grand Prix

Lore & Background

Rubens Barrichello started from pole position in his Ferrari ahead of teammate Michael Schumacher. However, following a start-line incident between five cars, four of whom retired as a result, Schumacher overtook Barrichello on the safety car restart on lap six, and despite a threat from Barrichello after the final pit stops, Schumacher held on to take his eighth win of the season. Takuma Sato became only the second Japanese driver to achieve a podium finish after Aguri Suzuki.

This was Takuma Sato's only podium finish in F1. The race saw two serious accidents caused by Michelin tyre failures. First, Fernando Alonso's Renault crashed into the barriers alongside the end of the pit straight on lap nine. Later, Ralf Schumacher's Williams suffered the same fate, but in the most dangerous part of the track, causing him to hit the wall at a ninety-degree angle rearwards.

The impact left Schumacher with spinal fractures and a concussion, which prevented him from racing until the 2004 Chinese Grand Prix, three months later. This was the last US Grand Prix race that featured a US-owned Formula One team until 2016 when Haas debuted as newly-formed US Formula One team.

Reader's Guide

Rubens Barrichello started from pole position. Michael Schumacher started second. The race featured a safety car period after a multi-car incident on the first lap. Schumacher took the lead on the safety car restart on lap six and held it to the finish. Takuma Sato finished third. Two Michelin tyre failures caused crashes for Fernando Alonso and Ralf Schumacher.