Ferrari's Sporting Director Jean Todt does not believe the events of the United States Grand Prix will have affected the reputation of the sport.

Todt was speaking after Michael Schumacher slowed out of the final bend and team mate Rubens Barrichello sped through to take victory. Schumacher claimed he had not intended to let the Brazilian win, but was happy that he had.

But several team bosses have reacted to the events, with McLaren head Ron Dennis claiming it trivialised the sport. However, Todt defended his drivers, saying he could comprehend the furore after Austria, but not this time.

"I can understand that some people who saw Austria have a tough time understanding, thinking we are arrogant," he said. "But in Indianapolis it was amongst us (Ferrari), we are not penalising anybody.

"In Austria you could have said we were penalising Montoya who could have had four points. Here I think it is a nice thing."

Asked whether their actions had affected the reputation of the sport, he said: "I cannot agree with that."

Pushed further on whether it was in the interests of the sport, Todt added: "Those are nice words but it doesn't exist in reality. We are in a sport where we have commercial interests. We just feel that the interest of the team or commercial and technical partners is to win races."

And he refused to believe that Ferrari misunderstood everyone's reactions: "In life you must respect everybody's job. I respect your job you must respect ours, even if you don't agree with what we do. But we feel it is best for the company.

"We love Michael and we love Rubens but we do what is best for Ferrari. There were no team orders. We just told them not to race after the second pit stop."

The US Grand Prix result saw Barrichello clinch the runner-up spot in the drivers' championship, a feat he would have achieved even if he had finished second at Indianapolis.