By Ron Kantowski

Published Monday, Nov. 23, 2009 | 2:16 p.m.

Updated Monday, Nov. 23, 2009 | 9:30 p.m.

NOW

One of the greatest drivers in the history of motor sports did not win the USA SuperNationals go-kart title in the featured SuperPro class on a temporary circuit at the Rio Hotel parking lot Sunday afternoon.

Michael Schumacher, the retired seven-time Formula One world driving champion and one of the world's most celebrated sportsmen, finished seventh in a 42-kart field, proving that sometimes the machine does not equal the man in these ultimate tests of man and machine, which is how a lot of people describe auto racing.

Or maybe it's just the Indy 500 they describe that way.

Anyway, the race win went to Bas Lammers of the Netherlands, whose uncle, Jan, is a former Formula One, Indy car and sports car driver of some repute.

Las Vegan Matt Jaskol finished 22nd.

While Schumacher did not win, witnesses said he was the subject of more snapshots than Lindsay Lohan following her latest fender bender.

THEN

In December 2007, Michael Schumacher and his family were running late to get to the airport. He asked a taxi driver if he could drive instead, and the two swapped seats. Schumacher made up ground on the 19-mile trip and caught his flight to Switzerland.

Despite doing most of the driving himself, he still gave the driver a 100-Euro ($149.67) tip.

Now that's a race-car driver.