Rivals don't want to call title fight

As the American media had their first chance to talk to championship protagonists Michael Schumacher, Juan Pablo Montoya and Kimi Raikkonen at Indianapolis, some of their opposition were put on the spot and asked to forecast who would come out on top.

Neither Jacques Villeneuve - who many expected to give a pro-Montoya or at least an anti-Schumacher vote - Cristiano da Matta, or Fernando Alonso was prepared to stick their neck out.

"For once it's very open and impossible to know," Villeneuve said. "Kimi seems to have been a little less competitive in the second half of the season but he's close enough so that if the other two go off, he gets all the points."

Da Matta added: "With the Ferrari and Williams so close, it could all depend on the weather and whatever tyre works better in the conditions could be critical."

"I agree," Alonso said, "It's too close to call."