Barrichello Ready to Help in Title Race

Rubens Barrichello is ready to play a part in this year's title race by taking points off his Ferrari teammate Michael Schumacher's championship rivals in this weekend's United States Grand Prix.

Brazilian Barrichello is already out of contention for the title but believes he can legally get around the ban on team orders in the last two races to help Schumacher's title bid by driving as fast as he can.

"I know I can play a big part in this championship," said Barrichello. "I can win races or gain good podium finishes so I am looking forward to this weekend's race in Indianapolis.

"People can say what they like about me - and I know they do - but I know what I have to offer to Ferrari, I know I don't crack under pressure and I know I have grown up now into a very decent racing driver."

The sport's governing body, the FIA, declared at the start of the season that team orders are no longer allowed and they have promised to police their illegal use very carefully during this year's championship run-in.

Barrichello was the subject of a now infamous team order in the Austrian Grand Prix last year when he was asked to hand victory to Schumacher so the German could extend his already large lead in the championship.

He was controversially involved again in last year's United States Grand Prix when Schumacher, who had already won the title, slowed in an attempt to orchestrate a dead-heat finish but handed a surprise victory to Barrichello.

"Last year was very confusing," said Barrichello. "To be honest I was not sure what was going on when Michael slowed down. We had not talked about anything to do with that.

"I saw Michael backing off like he was trying to let me by, but I wasn't certain that's what he was doing, so I backed off a little more. Then I thought he was giving me the position to win because of what had happened in Austria."

The official result showed that Brazilian Barrichello had won by 0.011 seconds, a fractional advantage that spoiled Schumacher's declared aim of creating a Ferrari 'tie' for victory.

But there will be no playing around this year and with Schumacher just three points ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya and seven ahead of Kimi Raikkonen, any legal help Barrichello can give him will be gratefully accepted.