Schumacher helmet fetches $55,000 at auction

A race helmet worn by Formula One champion Michael Schumacher fetched $55,200 at a charity auction for child victims of the September 11 attacks on the United States.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway said in a statement on Monday that it had raised a total of $187,356 from auctions of equipment donated by the 22 Grand Prix drivers.

Most of the items were worn during the U.S. Grand Prix at The Brickyard at the end of September, including the red helmet worn by Schumacher, Ferrari's four times world champion.

Other equipment was used in last month's Japanese Grand Prix.

The German's race helmet attracted 60 bids and eclipsed the second most popular item, a helmet worn by Michael's younger brother Ralf for Williams that fetched $25,100.

A race suit worn by McLaren's Mika Hakkinen, who won at Indianapolis in his last victory before taking a year out from racing in 2002, went for $20,300.

Other bids included $10,100 for Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya's driver's suit and $13,099 for a helmet worn by Briton Jenson Button.