Schumacher sets sights on belated party

For Michael Schumacher, Sunday's Italian Grand Prix, whatever the outcome, will be an opportunity for a long-postponed celebration and for enjoying the support of the Ferrari fans at the team's home track.

Last year, the 11 September attacks turned the race into a sombre occasion. "I could not celebrate my fourth world title with the fans at Monza last year because it was a tragic moment," the Ferrari driver said. "This time, I'll have the chance to celebrate last year's and this year's titles."

Italian fans were also subdued on 16 September 2001, as Juan Pablo Montoya clinched his first Formula One win and Schumacher finished fourth. Schumacher had considered not starting the race after the attacks in New York and Washington.

"I don't know how many will show up at Monza Sunday. What I care is to get full, warm support of the Ferrari fans," he said yesterday on the eve of free practice. "I still remember times when they displayed a gigantic Ferrari flag at the circuit, their faces painted with the team colours."

As last year, Schumacher was preparing to start in Monza with the drivers' and manufacturers' titles already assured. Needing only two points on Sunday to break his own record tally of 123, which he set last year, Schumacher may have to do without his tactical mastermind this weekend. Ferrari's Manchester-born technical director, Ross Brawn, whose pit-stop strategy has helped Schumacher to numerous wins at Benetton and Ferrari, is suffering from a long-term back problem which could force him to miss the final European race of the season.

Officials have delayed taking any action over Arrows, who look certain to miss their third successive race. But the Oxfordshire-based team have been warned that if their absence is proved to be through insolvency then they would lose their rights to compete in the World Championship under the Concorde Agreement which governs the sport.

The former Formula One driver Tomas Enge has tested positive for a banned substance. The Czech Republic driver, who is lying second in the Formula 3000 Championship heading into Saturday's final race, produced the positive test at last month's Hungarian Grand Prix. FIA, the sport's world governing body, is not saying what the drug involved is but Formula One sources said it was cannabis. Enge, 26 yesterday, who competed in three races for the now defunct Prost team in 2001, has been summoned to appear before the next meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Paris on 1 October.