Team Tactics Inevitable, Says Dennis

McLaren boss Ron Dennis struck a defiant tone over team orders on Sunday before a US Grand Prix that could make or break Kimi Raikkonen's title hopes.

Team orders, where one driver helps a partner to improve his position, are banned this year after two controversial Ferrari wins last season.

But Dennis said it would be incomprehensible for drivers not to act in the team's best interests at such a critical point in the Championship, with one race left after Sunday and three challengers for the title.

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher has 82 points, Williams' Juan Pablo Montoya 79 and McLaren's Raikkonen 75. The German, who could secure a record sixth title in Sunday's race if circumstances favour him, starts seventh behind Raikkonen on pole and Montoya on row two.

"It is inevitable that this is a massive issue at the moment, with the Championship so finely balanced," said Dennis. "But we are a team. That means the drivers will help each other in each of the teams, certainly at McLaren and Ferrari."

"Maybe Ralf (Schumacher), I don't know how he feels about supporting Montoya against his brother, maybe he is fine because he's a team player, but it's just a little bit of a complication," added Dennis of the situation at Williams.

"At the end of the day, teammates should drive as a team. And that is what this is about. We are here to win the World Championship.

"That doesn't constitute an instruction from the team, it constitutes what you would expect if you were a partner in any organisation, just like in a marriage. You expect your wife to support you in certain situations."

Closely Scrutinised

The governing FIA warned teams earlier this week that they would be closely scrutinised at Indianapolis to ensure the rules were complied with over team orders. Raikkonen starts alongside Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello, who is out of title contention, and Dennis said the Brazilian's place on the grid was cause for some concern.

"You have got to appreciate, we are not racing Rubens," he said. "Sure we want to win, but we don't need to beat him. But most certainly we don't want to be stuck behind him.

"I doubt to be honest that they (Ferrari) would sacrifice Rubens' race for the benefit of Michael but if he does get into the lead then there is no question that there would be no point from a team perspective in him pulling away.

"They would want to bunch the field so we certainly don't want to be stuck behind him. Equally, if they go ahead, Kimi would be wise not to be too aggressive as we have got to finish ahead of those two guys."