Schumacher commits to US race

WORLD champion Michael Schumacher has dismissed speculation that he would not race in this weekend's US F1 Grand Prix at Indianapolis.

"I never had any doubts about racing in Indianapolis," the Ferrari ace said.

"Naturally, like everyone, I wanted to see if anything would happen after the attacks in the USA, but, as I said, in principle, I always wanted to race there."Schumacher said he was looking forward to racing at the famous "Brickyard", and hoped the F1 circus could offer some moral support to the American people in the wake of the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington DC.

"We want to give them a shot of courage and help them get through these difficult times. I think I can speak on behalf of all the drivers when I say we are all deeply shocked by these acts of terrorism and we all offer our sincere and deepest sympathies to the families of the victims," he said.

Talk of Schumacher not racing in the US began at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in mid-September where it was apparent the terror attacks had made a significant impact on him.

He said his mood was not improved by a series of accidents in practice and qualifying, and then Alex Zanardi's horrific collision in a CART race in Germany.

Schumacher was further depressed by a failed attempt to convince rival drivers and teams to institute a no passing rule for the first two corners of the race.

"I still believe it would have been the right thing to do and it is absolutely wrong that some team principals can take unfair advantage of the fact that drivers depend on them and can be forced to act against their clear wishes. I still cannot understand it," he said.

While Schumacher is unbeatable for the title, the battle is still well and truly on for second place with just nine points separating McLaren-Mercedes' David Coulthard, Schumacher's teammate Rubens Barrichello and his brother Ralf Schumacher of Williams-BMW, with a maximum 20 points left available.

There is also a tight constructors battle for second place in the championship behind Ferrari, with eight points separating McLaren and Williams.

The 22 F1 drivers are scheduled to cover 73 laps of the of the 4.192km circuit, which includes the front straight, turn one and two of the famous oval track which is the venue for the Indianapolis 500.

Last year Schumacher led Barrichello home in a Ferrari 1-2.

The voice of Formula One, Murray Walker, will be commentating his last race at the US Grand Prix.

Walker, who was expected to make the season finale in Japan his final event, has announced that due to the fact that the championship battle is already over with Michael Schumacher taking the honours at round 13 in Hungary, he will end his 52- year career by bringing the curtain down at Indianapolis instead.

DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP:
1 M Schumacher (GER) 107
2 D Coulthard (SCO) 57
3 Barrichello (BRA) 54
4 R Schumacher (GER) 48
5 Montoya (COL) 25
6 M Hakkinen (FIN) 24
7 Villeneuve (CAN) 12
8 N Heidfeld (GER) 11
=9 Raikkonen (FIN) 9
=9 Trulli (ITA) 9CONSTRUCTORS' CHAMPIONSHIP
1 Ferrari 161
2 McLaren 81
3 Williams 73
4 Sauber 20
5 BAR 17
6 Jordan 16
7 Benetton 10
8 Jaguar 7
9 Prost 4
10 Arrows 1