Grapevine: Button climbs up Castrol Rankings

The Formula 1 world champion moved up two places at the expense of IndyCar drivers Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon, both of whom failed to finish in the top six at Iowa Speedway last weekend and saw their scores drop as a result.

It is the first time this year that the McLaren driver has gained places, Button having previously dropped from first to ninth because he failed to match his form of six wins from the first seven grands prix of 2009.

Sebastian Vettel maintained his number one spot for a 12th straight week, meaning that he has now spent longer at the top than anyone else this year.

His Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber is still his closest challenger with World Championship leader Lewis Hamilton third - having started the year 11th.

The highest-placed mover this week was NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson, who climbed above World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb into fourth place, courtesy of his first NASCAR Sprint Cup road course win at Sears Point.

Behind Loeb, Mikko Hirvonen and Button, Ryan Briscoe's fourth place at the Iowa IndyCar race moved him ahead of rivals Franchitti (9) and Dixon (10) too and up to eighth.

The biggest climber in the top 100 was Britain's Rob Huff (88), whose fifth and second places at the Zolder World Touring Car round moved him up 14 spots. IndyCar driver Hideki Mutoh (97) went the other way, dropping 14 after retiring at Iowa.

To see the full Castrol Rankings and check out motorsport legend Murray Walker's exclusive European Grand Prix vodcast, go to www.castroldriverrankings.com.