Ferrari Set Record for Wins, Points in a Season

Michael Schumacher's victory ahead of teammate Rubens Barrichello in Sunday's US Grand Prix enabled Ferrari to establish a team record for victories and points in a single season.

Ferrari's sporting director Jean Todt said after seeing the 31-year-old German secure his seventh win of the year that "a day like this makes you think even more about the championships."

"This is Ferrari's eighth victory of the season and the seventh for Michael. In terms of wins, and also with 143 points, this is an outright record for the team in one season.

"But we know that even if there are only two races remaining, the road ahead will still be long and difficult. It was a fantastic race from start to finish."

Todt said Schumacher, who spun when he lost concentration momentarily five laps from the end, always "makes us nervous when he has a big lead, but we know him well by now. He's like that. He finds it hard to drive slowly."

Schumacher leads defending champion Mika Hakkinen with only races in Japan and Malaysia remaining. Ferrari last won the drivers' title in 1979.