By Paul Kelly
indianapolismotorspeedway.com
Friday, December 12, 2003
Six-time Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher finally has met his match - a Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet.
Two-time United States Grand Prix winner Schumacher was edged, 2-1, in a three-race exhibition between his Ferrari F2003-GA Formula One car and an Italian Air Force fighter jet Dec. 11 on a runway in Grosseto, Italy. Schumacher won his record sixth F1 world title and the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis in 2003 in the F2003-GA.
Italian Air Force pilot Maurizio Cheli guided the jet, which has a top speed of approximately 1,500 mph (2,400 km/h) when flying at sea level.
"It was a great event and unique challenge," Schumacher said. "I hope the fans had as much fun as we all did."
The races took place in damp conditions over three distances: 600, 900 and 1,200 meters. Both Schumacher's car and the jet began from standing starts on parallel runways, and the airplane was required to stay on the ground until the finish of each event, when it took off and circled back to land.
Schumacher won the 600-meter event due to the superior acceleration from a standing start of his 900-horsepower Ferrari engine, finishing in 9.4 seconds. The jet trailed at 9.6 seconds. Schumacher's Ferrari reached 182 mph (294 km/h).
The sheer power of the jet's twin turbofan engines, which produce 20,000 pounds of thrust each, prevailed in the two longer races.
The jet covered 900 meters in 13 seconds, with Schumacher just behind at 13.2 seconds in the Ferrari. Schumacher's speed topped out at 190 mph (305 km/h).
Cheli guided the Typhoon to a time of 14.2 seconds over 1,200 meters. Schumacher trailed at 16.7 seconds, with a top speed of 191 mph (308 km/h).
"The best race was the first," Schumacher said. "If it weren't for the rain, we would have had more grip. But in any case, the result was not important in this race. From a technical point of view, the start was like a normal Grand Prix. If you take in account the difference in power between an airplane and the single-seater (car), these results could only have been expected."
Schumacher and the rest of the Formula One field will compete in the United States Grand Prix on June 20 on the 2.605-mile road circuit at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
USGP tickets: Tickets for the 2004 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis on June 20 are on sale, and the IMS ticket office encourages customers to place orders early to ensure the best possible opportunity to acquire good seats.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com or by calling the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700 or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area. Parking and camping information also can be obtained through the ticket office.
