Bridgestone all alone

The 2005 United States Formula One Grand Prix was held on June 19, 2005 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (the race track including the infield portion).

Out of the 20 cars that entered the race, only six cars from the teams using Bridgestone tyres (Ferrari, Jordan and Minardi) competed, a unique thing in the history of Formula One.

Following several tyre failures before the race, amongst these a serious accident for Ralf Schumacher’s Toyota, Michelin advised its seven customer teams that without a drastic reduction in speed in Turn 13, the tyres provided would only be safe for about 10 laps. And so these teams had no other choice than to withdraw from the race.

Of the six competitors, Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher was the eventual winner, with his team mate Rubens Barrichello finishing second.

Portuguese driver Tiago Monteiro took an unexpected third place (picture above), in front of his Jordan team mate Karthikeyan, both drivers a lap down.

The Minardis of Albers and Friesacher were fifth and sixth, two laps behind the race winner. All four of the drivers for Jordan and Minardi scored their first points in Formula One at this race.

At the podium ceremony, Tiago Monteiro overjoyed, stayed behind to celebrate his first and only podium finish, and the first for a Portuguese driver.