Prior to the start of last Sunday's United States Grand Prix the BMW WilliamsF1 team was hopeful of maintaining their lead in the Constructors championship as well as seeing Juan Pablo Montoya challenge Michael Schumacher for the drivers title. By the end of the race neither of these hopes would be a reality.

For Juan Pablo his championship hopes would end after a series of events that would see him only finish sixth in the race. With Michael winning and Juan Pablo only scoring two points the Colombian can no longer beat Michael's points tally.

For Juan Pablo the disappointment of the results was evident when he was to leave the circuit while Schumacher was still celebrating on the podium, not making any comments to the media.

Juan Pablo was to see his race start badly when he was to make a poor start which would see him drop down to seventh.

The moment that was to cost Juan Pablo dearly was when, on lap two, when he would try to pass Rubens Barrichello in a move that would see the two cars touch and Rubens spin off the track and into retirement. For his part in the accident Juan Pablo was given a drive-through penalty.

Barrichello commented on the incident by saying: "We've always said that we are running quite close and one day we might touch, but it shouldn't have been today because it was a close battle.

"The turn actually turns quite rapidly. I didn't turn in onto him. I thought I had left enough space. I didn't even reach the apex of the corner and all of a sudden I felt a bang. What I care is that I'm out of the race."

But apart from this costly penalty Juan Pablo would suffer under the variable weather conditions with the circuit changing rapidly from been dry to wet and back again. with the tyre choice that he had available Juan Pablo was to struggle all afternoon.

With his two main championship rivals finishing first and second, Michael Schumacher leading McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen, Juan Pablo's title hopes were gone. Michael now has 92 points, nine ahead of Raikkonen with just one race left in the season. With his sixth place Juan Pablo would have only 82 points.

Juan Pablo was to later issue a statement via the team. He said: "It's sad to lose my Drivers' Championship chances in this way, especially knowing that I just needed to finish fifth today to keep my hopes open. It was a disappointing race, basically decided by the penalty I was given for the accident with Rubens."

Team-mate Ralf Schumacher was to retire from the race after spinning off in the wet conditions and having the rear of his car damaged. At the time Ralf had been running amongst the leaders and was looking to have scored points for the team. But with his retirement the WilliamsF1 team could only come away with three points to see them drop to second in the Constructors championship, three points behind Ferrari..

With one race, Japan, left in this years championship the BMW WilliamsF1 team still has a very good chance of securing the Constructors title.

Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time

1. M. Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1h 33:35.997
2. Raikkonen McLaren Mercedes (M) + 18.258
3. Frentzen Sauber Petronas (B) + 37.964
4. Trulli Renault (M) + 48.339
5. Heidfeld Sauber Petronas (B) + 56.403
6. Montoya WilliamsF1 BMW (M) + 1 lap
7. Fisichella Jordan Ford (B) + 1 lap
8. Wilson Jaguar Cosworth (M) + 2 laps
9. da Matta Toyota (M) + 2 laps
10. Verstappen Minardi Cosworth (B) + 4 laps
11. Kiesa Minardi Cosworth (B) + 4 laps

Fastest Lap: M. Schumacher, 1:11.473

Not Classified/Retirements:

Driver Team On Lap
Villeneuve BAR Honda (B) 64
Firman Jordan Ford (B) 49
Coulthard McLaren Mercedes (M) 46
Alonso Renault (M) 45
Button BAR Honda (B) 42
Panis Toyota (M) 28
Webber Jaguar Cosworth (M) 22
R. Schumacher WilliamsF1 BMW (M) 22
Barrichello Ferrari (B) 3