Hamilton relishes chance to conquer US

By Volker Gundrum Jun 14, 2007, 11:53 GMT

Indianapolis, Indiana - After winning in Canada, Lewis Hamilton now has the chance to conquer the United States.

The Formula One newcomer moves from Montreal to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Sunday's US Grand Prix, out to prove he can do it again after chalking up his maiden victory in his debut season at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Hamilton leads the drivers' standings on 48 points, eight more than McLaren-Mercedes team-mate Fernando Alonso, leaving the world champion from Spain griping that the 22-year-old Briton was getting more favourable treatment in the British-based team.

Alonso, who finished seventh in the race, was as unfortunate in the crash-induced safety car phases as Hamilton was fortunate, the 22-year-old rookie having just refuelled before the first of the four interruptions.

But after finishing in the top three in the first six races of the season, Hamilton's polished performances are making him a serious contender for the world championship.

If he finishes in the top eight again on Sunday, he will be the first driver to score points in all of his first seven races.

Only two drivers have scored points in their first six Grand Prix Britain's triple champion Jackie Stewart, who scored points in his first six in 1965, and American Richie Ginther, who also scored in his first six spread over 1960 and 1961.

Hamilton is the only one to finish in the top 3 in his first six races.

Hamilton says he is less prepared for his US Grand Prix debut than he was for the Canadian GP, where he had never driven the Gilles Villeneuve circuit before.

Unlike before Canada, he says he has not even practised on McLaren's simulator in Woking, but he is looking forward to the race.

'I am really excited to be racing at Indianapolis. It is such a legendary venue, you can't escape the history here and I am looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere for the first time,' he said.

The season has so far been a delight for the McLaren team who lead the constructors' championship on 88 points, comfortably clear of nearest rivals Ferrari on 60, BMW Sauber on 38 and a disappointing Renault well back on 21.

McLaren team boss Ron Dennis has had to counter suggestions that Alonso, the world champion with Renault for the past two seasons, was not enjoying the team's full support.

Both Hamilton and Alonso have 'equal equipment, equal support and equal opportunity to win within the team,' he insisted.

Despite the disappointments of Montreal, Alonso is still confident he can win a hat-trick of titles.

'I've won two races out of six and I've finished on the podium four times and I have those 40 points that will allow me to fight for the title in the end,' he said.

Meanwhile Ferrari must recover quickly from a poor showing in Montreal in which Brazilian Felipe Massa was disqualified and Finland's Kim Raikkonen had to make do with fifth place.

Massa is third overall on 33 points, with Raikkonen on 27, one point ahead of BMW Sauber driver Nick Heidfeld of Germany who finished behind Hamilton in Montreal.

The BMW Sauber team was boosted by Heidfeld's all-round performance and relieved that team-mate Robert Kubica escaped a dreadful crash virtually unscathed.

Kubica says he feels fit enough to begin racing in Indianapolis, but his start will depend on a decision due Thursday by the chief medical officer of Formula One's governing body FIA.

If Kubica is ruled out at Indianapolis, the BMW team will choose either Sebastian Vettel or Timo Glock, the team's two German test drivers, as a replacement.