Hakkinen wins at Indianapolis

Hakkinen held off a late challenge from Barrichello

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Mika Hakkinen won an exciting United States Grand Prix from world champion Michael Schumacher after resisting a late charge from Rubens Barrichello.

The Brazilian, on a two-stop strategy, was within three seconds of Hakkinen's McLaren as the race entered the final three laps, but his engine blew and he failed to finish.

Hakkinen should have started the race from the front row of the grid, but was moved back to fourth after jumping a red light during Sunday's warm up session.

  Top six in USA

1. Mika Hakkinen

2. Michael Schumacher

3. David Coulthard

4. Eddie Irvine

5. Nick Heidfeld

6. Jean Alesi

However, in his penultimate race before taking a sabbatical from Formula One, Hakkinen drove a steady race and came through strongly in the second half to take the points.

David Coulthard finished third in the other McLaren to consolidate his second place in the championship, with Jarno Trulli driving a consistent race for Jordan to take fourth.

But Trulli was later disqualified after race officials found that the rear wheel of his car was in breach of regulations.

The decision means Northern Ireland's Jaguar driver Eddie Irvine was promoted to fourth, with Nick Heidfeld fifth in a Sauber and Trulli's team-mate Jean Alesi - in his 200th Grand Prix - picking up a point in sixth.

The highlight of a race that was dominated by pit strategies, was an audacious overtaking manoeuvre by rising Williams star Juan Pablo Montoya.

Michael Schumacher was again the victim of the Colombian's daredevil tactics, as Montoya produced a repeat of the slick move that left the world champion trailing in Brazil.

But as with that effort earlier in the season, Montoya was unable to build on his impressive form, as his Williams again failed to last the distance.

Team orders

Michael Schumacher started on pole and led into the first corner - but on lap five he waved his Ferrari team-mate Barrichello, who still has a chance to finish second in the title race, through into the lead.

Schumacher and Coulthard give Hakkinen a lift

By lap 22 Barrichello led by 12 seconds from Schumacher, with the third and fourth-placed Williams of Montoya and Ralf Schumacher starting to charge.

Ralf Schumacher and Barrichello both pitted by lap 27 and dropped back, leaving Michael Schumacher first with Montoya hot on his heels.

The Colombian took the lead with his stunning late-braking manoeuvre at the first corner on lap 33 and then pulled away from the world champion.

But within two laps he had to pit and Michael Schumacher found himself back in the lead by eight seconds from Mika Hakkinen in the McLaren.

Both Williams then went out of the race and the McLarens began to reel in the Ferraris.

Flying Finn

As the race passed half distance Hakkinen began to close on the lead.

And, after Michael Schumacher, Hakkinen and David Coulthard had all pitted, Hakkinen found himself ahead of the world champion.

Barrichello was leading but still had to make his second stop, and when he returned to the race after his second stop he was six seconds behind Hakkinen, with Schumacher third.

Barrichello began to haul Hakkinen back and by lap 58 he was less than three seconds behind the flying Finn, but Hakkinen managed to hold him at arm's length.

Smoke then appeared from the Brazilian's car, and although he tried to carry on, Barrichello finally ground to a halt.

Hakkinen cruised to victory, with Michael Schumacher and Coulthard making up the rest of the podium.

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Leading results from the United States Grand Prix, at Indianapolis:

1. Mika Hakkinen, Finland, McLaren-Mercedes, 1 hour 32 minutes 42.840 seconds
2. Michael Schumacher, Germany, Ferrari, 11.046 seconds behind
3. David Coulthard, Great Britain, McLaren-Mercedes, 12.0
4. Eddie Irvine, Great Britain, Jaguar, 72.434
5. Nick Heidfeld, Germany, Sauber-Petronas, 72.996
6. Jean Alesi, France, Jordan-Honda, one lap behind
7. Giancarlo Fisichella, Italy, Benetton-Renault, one lap
8. Jenson Button, Great Britain, Benetton-Renault, one lap
9. Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Germany, Prost-Acer, one lap
10. Olivier Panis, France, BAR Honda, one lap.

World Championship standings:

1. Michael Schumacher, Germany, Ferrari 113pts
2. David Coulthard, Great Britain, McLaren 61
3. Rubens Barrichello, Brazil, Ferrari, 54
4. Ralf Schumacher, Germany, Williams 48
5. Mika Hakkinen, Finland, McLaren 34
6. Juan Pablo Montoya, Colombia, Williams 25