The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 149

In; 7 j.fl:.D THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR I INDYSTAR.COM SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2003 RACE DAY PREVIEW -'It AMO I RllbCnS BarHchellO Speed: 130.61 mph Team: Scuderla Ferrari Marlboro Kimi Raikkonen (POLE WINNER) Speed: 130.84 mph Team: West McLaren Mercedes Time: 1:11.670 EngineChassis: McLarenMercedes Time: 1:11.794 EngineChassis: FerrariFerrari (OUTSIDE ROW 1) UUuel Liv- VtJ L. MllllllHM.il. miming J1II1IIW 'MM JII.IIM 1 rW 1 A I A'1 1 w' "4 A OShefs -TV' WW tSdwar The Star Slow way around: Michael Schumacher (center) helps two track workers push his Ferrari after it stopped in turn nine during the first practice session. Schumacher eventually qualified seventh for today's race. POLE SITTER GATES OPEN: 6 a.m.

DRIVERS PARADE: 10:15 a.m. GRID PRESENTATION: 11:45 a.m. RACE START: 1 p.m. Raikkonen takes pole, shows he's still in race MARKETING FORMULA ONE IMS finds race a tough sell By Mark Alesia mark.alesiaindystar.com As it moves from country to country, putting on a show that attracts a passionate worldwide following, Formula One is used to flexing its muscles, keeping out television news crews that don't pay and telling print media how much coverage it wants. But in America, the U.S.

Grand Prix is auto racing's version of a 1-nil soccer match between Tottenham and Liverpool So while a crowd of more than 100,000 today at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be one of the largest at an American sports event this weekend, the fourth U.S. Grand Prix makes little noise in its host country outside 16th and Georgetown. The buzz in Chicago? "They couldn't care less," said sports radio host Mike North of WSCR. Los Angeles? "First I've heard of it," said Steve Hart-man of radio station XTRA. New York? "Zero," said John Minko of radio station WFAN.

Television ratings illustrate the point Last Sunday's NFL doubleheader on CBS had an audience more than 10 times the See Sell, Page R2 Reticent racer steps forward By Steve Ballard steve.ballardindystar.com Soft-spoken to the point of apparent shyness, Kimi Raikkonen has a personality befitting someone who lists his favorite drink as water. But the quiet Finn could soon be guzzling champagne after thrusting himself squarely back into the Formula One championship picture Saturday by winning the pole for today's U.S. Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Raikkonen, 23, born in Espoo, Finland, but now residing in London to be near his McLaren-Mercedes team's headquarters, has been something of an afterthought in an F-l points race showcasing stars Michael Schumacher and Juan Pablo Mon-toya. But though he trails those two in the points, they'll both be chasing him today.

And on a tight 13-turn, 2.6-mile layout that affords little opportunity for passing, it's entirely possible Raikkonen could be headed to Japan in two weeks on the threshold of a most unlikely championship. If others have counted him out of the title race which Schumacher leads with 82 points, three more than Montoya and seven more than Raikkonen he has not. His quiet-man demeanor should not be See Reticent, Page R7 TV C. By Curt Cavin curt.cavinindystar.com Kimi Raikkonen reminded Formula One that its championship chase is still a three-man affair. The McLaren driver delivered a pole-winning run Saturday in a most unusual qualifying session for today's fourth U.S.

Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Raikkonen's time of 1 minute, 11.670 seconds held off Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello and easily distanced fellow title contenders Juan Pablo Montoya (fourth position) and three-time defending series champion Michael Schumacher (seventh). Schumacher had won the USGP's first three poles, but his Ferrari was so loose Saturday that he slid through several corners of the 2.6-mile road course. His time in the second of three track segments was a disappointing ninth among the 20 drivers, reducing him to his second-worst qualifying effort of the season. The five-time world champion started eighth last month in Hungary.

Raikkonen did not know what to make of Mon-toya's time and didn't anoint himself as the race or the championship favorite. He trails Schumacher by seven points in the latter and Montoya by four with two races remaining. "There's still a long race to go," he said. The season ends Oct. 12 in Suzuka, Japan.

Since grand prix drivers are required to start races See F-1, Page R7 foam me Matt Kryger The Star Quickest Kimi Raikkonen, who is third in the points standings, walks down the garage area after winning the pole for today's United States Grand Prix. HUD Inside track Tips for getting to the Speedway for today's United States Grand Prix. R2 Great Juan Juan Pablo Montoya closes in on defending F-l champion Michael Schumacher. RS Starting lineup A full-page look at the drivers and the cars on the starting grid for today's grand prix. R4.