F1 Cars on their way to America

The U.S. Formula One Grand Prix cleared a big hurdle today with confirmation that cars and equipment were headed to Indianapolis…

The U.S. Formula One Grand Prix cleared a big hurdle today with confirmation that cars and equipment were headed to Indianapolis on schedule.

"Most of the Formula One teams airfreighted their equipment to the USA this week via Amsterdam's Schiphol airport," the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) said today.

It said in a regular update that Amsterdam had been chosen by the European-based teams because it had "a suitably large x-ray machine available to check all the pallets".

The FIA said world champions Ferrari sent their equipment from Milan's Malpensa airport "after a correspondingly rigorous examination".

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Eddie Baker, the man who runs Bernie Ecclestone's digital television operations, confirmed to Reuters that all his equipment had also left Italy for the United States.

The race at Indianapolis on September 30 is the penultimate one of the season and has been overshadowed by the attacks on New York and Washington last week.

Fears had been raised that tightened security, and logistical problems caused by the need to examine thoroughly all cargo heading to the United States, could jeopardise the race.

Local organisers, Ecclestone and the FIA have all said the race will proceed as scheduled, albeit under tightened security.

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher has already won the championship, his fourth world title.