Analysis: Formula One Wonders Where it's Heading

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya left Monza feeling confident, contented and looking forward to returning to Indianapolis as a winner.

"I'm very happy to go back there," said the former CART champion who won the Indy 500 last year. "The car should work pretty well there, so it should be quite interesting."

But while the Williams driver savoured his first Grand Prix victory in Italy on Sunday, for others there were only questions after a strange and lugubrious weekend. The main one being asked in Italy was "Where does Formula One go from here?"

With two races remaining, and the U.S. Grand Prix next up on the calendar, the question would not be necessary in normal circumstances. But the terror attacks on New York and Washington last week has left the whole world in a state of uncertainty.

The ruling International Automobile Federation (FIA) say it has no plans to cancel any races and Bernie Ecclestone assured everybody at the weekend that he would be in America with them. Officially, the U.S. Grand Prix will be held on September 30.

The truth is that, even if Formula One is determined to go ahead with Indianapolis, the decision could be taken out of their hands by events. Cars, fuel and the huge amounts of specialised television equipment without which Formula One has no show for the world, all have to be flown out.

Teams Unsure

McLaren team principal Ron Dennis said at the weekend that the movement of freight, with everything having to be x-rayed, constituted a major headache. But Eddie Baker, who oversees Formula One's television operations, said equipment was due to leave Milan on Wednesday and everything was proceeding as normal.

Former champion Niki Lauda, one of two team principals in the Grand Prix paddock with experience of running their own airlines, expressed his own reservations about the race.

"Personally I don't think we should go," the Guardian newspaper quoted the Jaguar boss as saying. "But it is not my decision. We have a contractual commitment to Indianapolis and the race could only be cancelled if the organisers there wanted. But as I say, I'm not the ring master, just one of the acrobats."

Lauda said all the team's equipment had to be processed through Amsterdam where there was a big enough x-ray machine to inspect the cargo.

"There is also the problem of what happens if the cars and personnel should be stranded in America for any reason," he said. The season-ending Japanese Grand Prix is two weeks later, with equipment also requiring quick clearance out of the United States for that to happen.

Drivers were divided, with Monday's Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy suggesting that World Champion Michael Schumacher might not see out the season. Ferrari sporting director Jean Todt was quoted as saying that Schumacher had not been forced to race at Monza and would be allowed to make his mind up about the final two races.

"We will decide respecting his opinions. He is the one who drives and he the one who should say whether or not he feels up to it."