Ferrari has pumped in another $26 million to boost Michael Schumacher’s charge for an eighth World Championship in 2006. Buoyed by the German’s dominance at Indianapolis, Jean Todt convinced his backers to bolster this year’s Ferrari budget, according to German newspaper Bild.

At Jerez last Friday, in preparation for the upcoming French Grand Prix, the 37-year-old Schumi set a new test lap record with a rejuvenated completely overhauled Ferrari 248 F1 car. Although Ross Brawn insists that it is not a ‘B’ specification, the heavily revised 248 features a new engine cover, front wing and engine, improved aerodynamics, packing an extra 20 hp.

The tabloid daily also described new Bridgestone tyres for Magny Cours as super-rubber, and said Team Principal Todt had asked Ferrari staff to work extra shifts at Maranello to implement the upgrade. With eight races to run this season, Schumacher is 19 points behind Renault rival Fernando Alonso.

I don’t know whether my victory at Indy was representative of the next races, but I am convinced that we have taken a step forward. Our goal is still to win the championship title. Schumacher said

Can Schumi and Ferrari stay infront of everyone in the remaining 8 races?. Lets wait and see. #.#

In other news as posted in planetf1, Michael Schumacher has had his critics in the past but one of his greatest rivals, Damon Hill, says his ability to get past these detractors is amazing and likens his former rival to an impenetrable rhinoceros.

Schumacher has been involved in more than a couple of controversial incidents in his careers but without fail the German great has managed to shrug off the bad press and defy his critics. Earlier this year Schumi was penalized for parking his car on a qualifying lap in Monte Carlo which effectively ruined the chances of rival Fernando Alonso claiming pole and was harshly criticized by many people in and around Formula One including Damon Hill. In just over a month though Schumi has put the incident behind him, won the recent US GP, and is setting about launching a comeback on runaway Championship leader Fernando Alonso. BRDC President Damon Hill said to British newspaper,

Michael is like a rhinoceros when it comes to criticism and seems to be so impenetrable that whether criticism goes in or not is beyond me - I just don’t know, He always seems to just to shrug it off.#.

Thats one of the reasons why I am a great Schumi fan.