Formula One News — May 2005

ABC's coverage of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday drew a 6.6 overnight rating and a 17 share, up 40% from last year and the highest rating for the race since 1997.

The European currency is losing value rapidly against the US dollar following France's vote on Sunday to reject a new European Constitution. The Euro has already been down to values which have not been seen since last autumn as Europe considers the implications of the vote.

Carlos Ghosn has been settling into his new job at Renault in recent weeks without making much of a fuss and is now preparing to unveil his plans to expand the Renault-Nissan empire for the years ahead.

The first Grand Prix took place at Le Mans in 1906 - not that you would know it when you visit the city, which is now famous for its annual 24 Hour sports car event. Officials from the Automobile Club de l'Ouest have recently approved the design for a museum for Le Mans.

The Goldenport Motor Park in Beijing is to host the country's first International Racing Car Expo in September. The event will be sponsored by the Beijing Sports Competition Management Centre and aims to assist the development of an automotive culture in China.

Global motor racing should be rejoicing this week because the sport, a bastion of the white male since the very start, has finally found a female star worthy of the term.

Real Madrid and Portugal international soccer star Luis Figo and Manchester United's assistant manager Carlos Queiros have revealed their plans to run Portugal's entry in the A1 Grand Prix series. The car, which was launched at the Centro Cultural de Belem in Lisbon, will run in national colours.

Kimi Raikkonen did everything he could do to win the European Grand Prix but at the first corner on the last lap of the race it all went wrong. He had driven a wonderful race, taking the lead at the start and being able to stay well ahead of Nick Heidfeld, despite the fact that the BMW Williams driver was racing with a much lighter fuel load.

Bruno Junqueira is due to undergo surgery today at Indianapolis Methodist Hospital to repair fractures to two vertebrae, damaged in a crash during the Indianapolis 500.

The European Grand Prix has raised questions about the safety of Formula 1 tyres with the current tyre regulations.

Dan Wheldon won the 89th Indianapolis 500, while Jimmie Johnson won the Nascar Nextel Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte on Sunday.

Carlin Motorsport's Charlie Kimball became the first American in more than 10 years to win rounds of the British Formula 3 Championship.

European GP - Race Notes

European GP - Sunday Photos

European GP - Sunday Press Conference

European GP - Race incidents

European GP - Sunday Team Quotes

European GP - Race Results

The GP2 series race on Sunday at the Nurburgring was a brilliant battle, created by reversing the top eight positions on the grid. Racing purists do not like it but there is no arguing that as pure entertainment it was very good.

Nick Heidfeld took pole position for the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring and the BMW Williams team was delighted to have not only Heidfeld on pole but also Mark Webber third on the grid, the pair being split by the McLaren of Kimi Raikkonen.

Michael Schumacher's manager Willi Weber is tipped to have acquired the right to run an A1 Grand Prix team for Germany.

Heikki Kovalainen won the GP2 race on Saturday at the Nurburgring with a class drive from 17th on the grid. The Arden International team used a sensible strategy to pit early and run in free air early on while the others were dicing and so gained a sufficient advantage to take the lead.

European GP - Saturday Photos

European GP - Saturday Press Conference

European GP - Saturday Team Quotes