On the Indianapolis podium, there was no mistaking Michael Schumacher - and teammate Rubens Barrichello's - unease at the crowd reaction, following one of the most farcical events in the sport's history.

While Tiago Monteiro sprayed the Champagne and stuck out his - Gene Simmons - like tongue, blissfully unaware that he was alone on the podium, the two Ferrari drivers retreated to the team motorhome, the boos of the crowd still ringing in their ears.

Despite the Indy idiocy and the furore that followed, Michael Schumacher remains confident that F1 will return to the USA and thrive.

"It is pretty obvious what has happened," said the German, "but despite that I think that Formula One will return to the States at some stage and be very strong.

"I don't know the calendar for next year," he continued, "but there is no reason why we should not return and show a good show again as we have done. Plus there has been so much talk about Formula One in the United States that it probably has arrived much more spectators than before."