How fitting that F1 should come to the States at this time. Even more so as all 22 drivers decided to show up for work. Well, if you count David Coulthard and Jacques Villeneuve that is.

How fitting that F1 should come to the States at this time. Even more so as all 22 drivers decided to show up for work. Well, if you count David Coulthard and Jacques Villeneuve that is.

For those of us in the U.S., this race had a strange feel. It wasn't the tragic events of earlier in the month, the sight of Tony George presiding over a decent open wheel race or even the fact that the cars were going the wrong away around turn 1. No, it was the TV coverage. In a move that wasn't announced until a couple of weeks ago, network giant ABC seized the rights to the US GP from cable minnow Speedvision. Exactly why is something of a mystery. Normally, ABC doesn't even bother to compete on Sunday afternoons, contenting themselves with scrounging a few dollars from some half hour infomercials while the big boys air American Football. However, this week they decided to get off their duffs and grab the biggest single worldwide sporting event of the week (apart from Derby County v Arsenal that is). Having done that, they then explicably decided that they couldn't afford to get real commentators so we got Bob Jenkins who, I swear, said at one point: "..an intense battle between Coulthard and...................................... that other car." (Yes there are a lot of dots. It was a LONG pause). Note: it was the Sauber driven by ....................................... one of those Europeans.

As if Bob "where'd all the dirt go" Jenkins wasn't enough we were treated to the inestimable talents and racing insights of Jason Priestly in pitlane. I believe that most of the world was subjected to the tedious angst of Beverly Hills 90210 and you might therefore be familiar with the aforementioned Mr. Priestly. Quite how his appearance on a teenage soap opera qualified him for this position I don't know but it must have been that entry on his resume that clinched it, because it certainly wasn't his inability to distinguish a McLaren from a Williams when it is standing still and he's standing next to it.

The triumvirate was made up by Eddie Cheever - former Formula One driver. Very former (he asked where the mechanic sat). Seriously, at least Cheever has been there and has some personal insights into the sport. He does a good job of keeping that secret though.

It's strange how we in the US should get these three just as ITV is losing Murray Walker. I'll bet both commentary teams made as many mistakes but watching the ABC crew was kind of like watching the Three Stooges doing an impersonation of Victor Borge.

Good luck, Murray. You'll be missed - I've missed you for a decade already!

STRAIGHT TO VIDEO

As for the video portion of this telecast (an American-ism that means programme), I don't know what went on exactly. Apparently, according to Bob "Thrills and Spills" Jenkins (so it must be true) we in the U.S. were watching the world feed but there was something funky about it: (a) the on-screen graphics depicting intervals, running order etc. were different and (b) they used on-board cameras. And I mean they used them - not just carried them around in ugly looking boxes on top of the cars. I'm assuming that we were getting the feed that is typically intended only for Bernievision's 33 paying customers. I've got to tell you though, I like a good on board shot as much as the next man but by the end of this race I needed a Dramamine.

Another nice feature of this coverage, apart from the "telemetry" (it was a tachometer - telemetry is way too fancy a word for a tach) was the team radio communication that we were almost privy to. I say almost because every time they turned on that channel, Priestly started babbling about how his overalls made his bum look fat.

I don't know where this enhanced coverage came from (and neither apparently did ABC) but presumably Bernie decided to let the US have his Berniefeed for free because (a) there's no way to charge for it anyway and (b) Bernie wants people to like him. Especially rich American people.

RON CONFIRMS MIKA WILL RETURN

Despite the fact that vast majority of F1 watchers believe that Mika Hakkinen's "sabbatical" is in fact simply a retirement by any other name, Ron Dennis confirmed this weekend that Hakkinen will in fact be back for the 2003 season.

I wonder if DC believes him?

If Dennis is telling the truth, then why did he go out of his way (and spend a fortune) to bring in a temporary employee with little experience who will not be there long enough to really establish himself and mount a serious championship challenge. Seems a strange thing to do - groom a potential champion who will then drive for somebody else.

No, I don't think Ron plans on having Kimi go anywhere after 2002.

As to which is more likely; a Hakkinen return from sabbatical or a serious championship challenge from Coulthard. I leave it to you to determine which is more unlikely.