| In the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, Nick | | | | well in qualifying, but shortly after the start I was |
| Heidfeld earned the first podium of the season for | | | | involved in a collision and turned over for the first |
| BMW Sauber when he took the second spot. | | | | and, hopefully, last time in my career." |
| That also matched his career-best Formula One | | | | "Indianapolis is a special occasion for Formula One. |
| finish. Now, the German driver hopes for another | | | | The Speedway is renowned the world over and |
| strong finish at Indy. | | | | symbolizes American motor sport like no other |
| "First of all, I'm stunned about how quick we were | | | | race track,” said Mario Theissen, the BMW |
| in Canada in race conditions," Heidfeld said. "I think | | | | motorsport director. "For the BMW Group the |
| I could have finished second anyway, beaten | | | | USA Grand Prix is of key importance insofar as |
| probably one of the McLarens and both of the | | | | the United States is our biggest market. We sell |
| Ferraris. It is true that the downforce level in Indy | | | | more cars there than in Germany and also have |
| is similar to Canada, probably a bit more - | | | | our biggest production sites outside Germany.” |
| obviously then there are a lot more corners. But | | | | "Another superlative that Indy can claim is in the |
| (Indianapolis) is one of the circuits where I've | | | | mechanical loads exerted on the engines. Drivers |
| always done well. Apart from last year, when I | | | | go flat out for 23 seconds, most of it in seventh |
| was flying a bit! I hope I will have better luck this | | | | gear. That takes the units to the limit of their |
| year." The German driver is referring to his | | | | performance. In the past, BMW has lost a lot of |
| amazing accident at the start of the 2006 United | | | | points in Indianapolis as a result of accidents. From |
| States Grand Prix when his car went flying | | | | that point of view, my hope is above all for a |
| through the air. Heidfeld was not injured. | | | | collision-free weekend," Theissen added. With |
| The BMW Sauber is steadily getting closer to the | | | | reliable BMW pressure plate and race parts, the |
| leading McLaren-Mercedes and Ferrari teams. | | | | team results could still be outstanding. |
| Asked if he predicts another strong finish at the | | | | Willy Rampf, the technical director of the team, |
| Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Heidfeld said: "I like | | | | has this to say: "The Indianapolis Speedway is |
| it when race tracks have a distinctive character, | | | | fundamentally different from the circuit at |
| and that's definitely the case with Indianapolis. The | | | | Montreal, yet both tracks demand a medium |
| Speedway is an icon of American motor racing, | | | | downforce level. In Indy that is the result of a |
| and the high-banked turn is something special for | | | | tricky compromise.” |
| Formula One, although it isn't exactly challenging | | | | Rampf noted, “If you haven't got sufficient |
| for the drivers to drive flat out in a straight line. | | | | braking stability and traction in these corners, you |
| It's far more difficult to get the car's set-up just | | | | lose more time than can be gained on the |
| right.” | | | | straights. In the infield, where you shift down all |
| Heidfeld added, "My memories of Indy are very | | | | the way to first, you want the maximum possible |
| varied. In 2001 I managed a sixth-placed finish | | | | downforce, similar to Monaco or Budapest. These |
| there with Sauber, although I had lost my first, | | | | radically different demands made by the oval and |
| second and, most crucially, seventh gear. That | | | | the infield section turn set-up work at Indy into a |
| was one of my best races. A less pleasant | | | | fine balancing act. |
| memory is the accident in 2006. We had done | | | | |