Heidfeld puts Sauber back on track.

Nick Heidfeld scored two more World Championship points by finishing fifth for Team Sauber-Petronas in yesterday's USA Grand Prix, bringing the Swiss outfit's seasonal total to 22.

Nick Heidfeld said: "Originally I expected more from this race, after our performance yesterday. But in the circumstances I am happy to score two valuable points for fifth place, because I lost first, second and seventh gears soon after my first stop. Believe me, they are very important here and I lost at least 20 kmh on the straight and had trouble on the infield too as a result."

"Initially I was able to fight with (David) Coulthard for sixth place, but after the problem arose I had to focus on surviving. I'm satisfied, though, that we still maintain our fourth place in the championship heading for the final race in Suzuka."

Kimi R?ikk?nen who retired after being hit by Jarno Trulli's Jordan added: "I made a reasonable start and was pushing close with Nick in ninth place at the end of the first lap, but under braking for the first corner Trulli tried to come round the outside of me and pinched me. I hit my nose on Nick when Trulli hit the back of my car. I stopped for a new nose, but a driveshaft had been damaged so I had to stop out on the circuit. I'm disappointed, because we could have scored more points today."

Team boss Peter Sauber concluded: "Nick's fine drive today protected our fourth place in the Constructors' World Championship, in very difficult circumstances. To maintain competitive lap times without first, second and seventh gears for much of the race was a great performance. Unfortunately, Kimi had to retire after an incident in the first corner on the second lap."