Six cars started the controversial 2005 United States Grand Prix.
The race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on 19 June 2005 became one of Formula 1’s most notorious events. Twenty cars had qualified, but only the six fitted with Bridgestone tyres actually took the start: Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello, Jordan’s Tiago Monteiro and Narain Karthikeyan, and Minardi’s Christijan Albers and Patrick Friesacher.
The other 14 cars used Michelin tyres. After serious tyre failures involving Toyota during practice, Michelin warned its customer teams that the tyres were unsafe through the banked Turn 13 unless speeds were reduced. With the regulations then forbidding tyre changes during the race, the Michelin teams completed the formation lap and withdrew into the pits.
That left a six-car procession, with Schumacher winning ahead of Barrichello and Monteiro. Thousands of fans left, and many demanded refunds. The incident badly damaged Formula 1’s reputation in the United States. A frequent mistake is saying six cars finished; six cars started, and all six were classified as finishers.