Grapevine: More News from the Paddock

Bernies

The 2002 season 'Bernies' were presented in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway paddock on Friday to commend five important people for their efforts in the sport this season. The awards, Formula One's equivalent of the Oscars, were handed out as follows:

Driver of the Year: Michael Schumacher, Ferrari

Rookie of the Year: Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren Mercedes

Lifetime Achievement: Sir Frank Williams, Williams-BMW

Outstanding Contribution to Formula One: Paul Stoddart, Minardi

Technical Excellence: Ross Brawn, Ferrari

Unfortunately, the man whose name (and shape) the trophies take, Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone, was not present for the ceremony, having been forced to stay away from Indianapolis to work on other business.

Renault Charity

The Renault Formula One team announced an 'extraordinary charity auction' of memorabilia in Indianapolis this weekend which will take place on the French version of the internet shopping site eBay (www.eBay.fr). The team have offered the company 30 signed items to put up for auction in a bidding session that will last two weeks, continuing until the season-ending Japanese Grand Prix.

The team's two race drivers Jenson Button and Jarno Trulli have offered signed helmets and overalls, while there is also a part of the team's engine available for purchase as well as many other items. The profits from the auction will go to the UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees), going specifically towards a project that will help 38,000 Tibetan schoolchildren living in Nepal benefit from primary education.

Renault Party

Renault held a party for special guests on Thursday evening at the oldest bar in Indiana, the Slippery Noodle Inn. The team enjoyed their celebration of their season - and so did their drivers. Just hours before his first session on track at the Motor Speedway, Italian Jarno Trulli was out partying into the night (well, 10:30pm at least) and surely must have broken his curfew. Spaniard Fernando Alonso, who will race alongside Trulli next year, was also there enjoying the top quality funky jazz blues music, as was the team's technical director Pat Symonds and rival Williams engineer Sam Michael.

Waiting Table

Italian Giancarlo Fisichella would love to drive for Ferrari so his experience at an Indianapolis restaurant could easily have put his nose out of joint. The amiable Jordan driver, his manager and several members of the Jordan team were left waiting for some time to find a table in the busy dining hall. But as they stood at the main entrance, the side door opened and in came Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher and entourage. A table was immediately cleared for the five-time World Champion and his accompanying guests to leave a disgruntled Fissi et al aghast. Ah, the things you can get when you are wearing red.

Old And New

Jackie Stewart's 1971 World Championship winning Tyrrell was taken into the 21st century on Friday when it was driven around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in a presentation of historic Formula One cars. The infield section of the famous oval track was not even thought of in Stewart's era, and the parade gave the owners of 22 vintage machines from the 3-litre era between 1966 and 1983 the chance to drive their cars on a track they never raced on. American Mario Andretti's 1978 title winning JPS Lotus was also taken around the circuit as were cars formerly driven by Niki Lauda, Ronnie Peterson, Clay Regazzoni and Gilles Villeneuve.