Speed to be first American on F1 grid since ‘93
Tickets are on sale to the general public Monday, December 19 for the 2006 United States Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
All fans can order tickets online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com, by calling the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700 or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, or at the ticket office at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Parking and camping information also can be obtained through the ticket office.

The United States Grand Prix is scheduled for Sunday, July 2. On-track activity starts Friday, June 30 and continues Saturday, July 1. This will be the seventh consecutive year that the only F1 race in America will take place on the 13-turn, 2.605-mile road course at IMS.

The race will feature the first American on a Formula One starting grid since 1993 when Scott Speed races for Scuderia Toro Rosso. Speed, from Manteca, California, will be the first American to race in his home Grand Prix since Eddie Cheever Jr. finished third in the 1989 U.S. Grand Prix at Phoenix.

A variety of special fan-oriented activities during the event will be announced in the future.

There’s an interesting mix of youth and experience in the 2006 USGP field, personified by the last two drivers to carry the title of World Champion. Fernando Alonso became the youngest World Champion ever by claiming the 2005 title at age 24. Seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, winner of five straight titles from 2000-04, will be the oldest driver in the field at 37.

Two rookies will race in the United States Grand Prix, Speed with Scuderia Toro Rosso and Nico Rosberg with WilliamsF1 Team. Rosberg is the son of 1982 World Champion Keke Rosberg, who took the world title with a Williams-Cosworth combination.

facts and figures about the 20 drivers and teams who will compete in the United States Grand Prix on July 2 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

Oldest driver (on Race Day): Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 37

Youngest driver (on Race Day): Nico Rosberg, 21

Most experienced F1 driver: Michael Schumacher, 230 career starts

Least experienced F1 drivers: Nico Rosberg, Scott Speed, 0 career starts

Most experienced USGP at Indy drivers: Rubens Barrichello, Michael Schumacher, six starts (2000-05)

Least experienced USGP at Indy drivers: Vitantonio Liuzzi, Nico Rosberg, Scott Speed, no Indy starts

Most USGP victories: 4, Michael Schumacher (2000, 2003-05)

Most USGP poles: 3, Michael Schumacher (2000-02)

Most USGP laps completed: 438, Michael Schumacher (out of 438 possible laps)

Most USGP laps led: 295, Michael Schumacher

World Champions in field: 3, Fernando Alonso (2005), Michael Schumacher (1994-95, 2000-04), Jacques Villeneuve (1997)

USGP winners in field: 2, Michael Schumacher (2000, 2003-05); Rubens Barrichello (2002)

F1 race winners in field: 10, Michael Schumacher (84 wins), David Coulthard (13), Jacques Villeneuve (11), Rubens Barrichello (9), Kimi Raikkonen (9), Fernando Alonso (8), Juan Pablo Montoya (7), Ralf Schumacher (6), Giancarlo Fisichella (2), Jarno Trulli (1).


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