After qualifying a fantastic 2nd place for US GP qualifying, stewards decided to knock him back two places on the grid for an infringement in the sunday morning warm up. This infuriated Mika who started the race fuming from 5th position. He had put up with enough this season. 7 races in which his car had TERMINALLY let him down (including Spain where a last lap retirement from the lead was as a result of a clutch problem), he brushed off with incredible sportsman-like behaviour. This time however he almost let his frustration get the better of him.

If you had asked him on the grid whether he wanted to return in 2003, he wouldn't have said yes. The brilliant win maybe however enough to lure him back from his 2002 holiday. It made him and everyone else realise that he still had it in him. The Hakkinen of 1998,1999 and that magical mid-season patch in 2000 was still there and always will be.