30 September 2001: The last bow for both Mika Hakkinen and Murray Walker

The 2001 United States GP saw Mika Hakkinen record his final race win. It was also the final F1 race to feature Murray Walker's commentary.

Mika Hakkinen celebrates winning the United States GP of 2001. (Image: Twitter)
By Shayne Dias | Sep 30, 2021 | 4 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

The 2001 United States Grand Prix was notable for three reasons. First, the penultimate Formula 1 race of the season came just weeks after the 9/11 terror attacks on the World Trade Centre. Secondly, the race was won by Mika Hakkinen – which was to be his final F1 win and podium finish. And thirdly, this was the final race to feature the legendary Murray Walker on commentary. All in all, it was a race that will not be forgotten soon by those fortunate enough to witness it. And there were many who did; an estimated crowd of over 175,000 people packed out the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to witness the event.

With 20 years having passed since the day, let us look back at a Grand Prix race for the ages.

The background

There was little in the way of stakes coming into what would be round 16 in the 17-race season. The world title had already been decided, with Michael Schumacher winning his second straight championship with Ferrari – and fourth overall.

Hakkinen, who was the last person to win a title before Schumacher and Ferrari got started in their run of domination, planned on taking a year off from racing at the end of 2001. That break turned into a full-time retirement later on.

Indeed, the Flying Finn was some ways off the pace in the title run. His McLaren-Mercedes teammate David Coulthard was Schumacher’s closest title contender. However, he did not have the beating of the German on a consistent basis.

And Schumacher was in no mood to take his foot off the pedal. He duly took pole at Indianapolis, with younger brother Ralf in second and his Williams-BMW teammate Juan Pablo Montoya in third.

Interestingly, Hakkinen actually set the second-fastest time in the end final session but the timing was deleted. This was because he ignored a red light coming out of the pits. As a result, he started the race in fourth.

Mika Hakkinen takes memorable win

The early parts of the race did not feature Hakkinen in a prominent way. Indeed, the battle for the lead in the opening race was between Schumacher and Montoya.

Montoya pulled his Williams alongside Schumacher but the German closed the door going into Turn 2. However, the fastest car on the grid at that point was Schumacher’s Ferrari teammate, Rubens Barrichello.

The Brazilian was carrying a lighter fuel load and clearly operating on a two pit stop strategy. Thus with a lighter car, he soon caught Montoya and would then pass Schumacher to take the lead.

Barrichello would keep the lead until Lap 27, when he made the first of two stops. He emerged fifth behind both McLarens, with Schumacher now in the lead.

However, Montoya was hot on the heels of Schumacher and on Lap 34 made a daring pass on him in Turn 1. Just as Schumacher was approaching the Minardi of Alex Yoong, Montoya dived down the inside of the German.

It was quite a move, with Schumacher later admitting he had no idea where Montoya came from. But there was heartbreak for the Williams driver as a suspected hydraulics issue caused his retirement two laps later.

Schumacher, now the race leader, stopped on Lap 39 and Hakkinen led teammate Coulthard thereafter. The Scot gave up second place when he pitted and Hakkinen also pitted on Lap 46.

However, he took the lead for good when Barrichello made his second stop on Lap 50. From there he held on to the lead, with Barrichello having to eventually retire due to engine failures.

Schumacher took second place, some 11 seconds behind Hakkinen with Coulthard rounding off the podium spots.

The aftermath

Mika Hakkinen was clearly happy to bask in the adulation of the crowd thereafter. It had been a frustrating season for him up until that point. He suffered from inconsistency and was not a title contender for the first time in four years.

“This Grand Prix is definitely one of my important victories,” he said afterwards. “Because I rate Monaco, Silverstone and Indianapolis, I think, as the Grands Prix a Grand Prix driver wants to win. It’s something special. So this is something I’m never going to forget.”

Indeed, this was his 20th – and final – F1 win in his career. At the time he wanted to take a voluntary year-long sabbatical but that turned into a proper retirement.

The race also saw legendary F1 commentator Murray Walker commentate on a race for the last time. For many a year, the British sports personality was seen by fans as the voice of F1, and proved irreplacable in the booth.





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