crontab file format?

[Michael Hipp]

Every Linux system I remember always uses this format in the 
/etc/crontab file:

01 * * * * root somecommand

I always thought the "root" above told it to run that command as user 
'root'. Right/wrong?

Note that none of the manpages about cron or crontab show that 
extraneous "root" in the line. But it works fine.

But if you put that "root" in the line for /home/fred/crontab the bloody 
thing doesn't run. Ever.

Is that the idea that you need that indicator in the systemwide crontab 
but it is not permitted in the user-specific crontabs?

Is there some reason this isn't documented anywhere?

Am I just being grumpy because Saturday is almost over and I've gotten 
nothing done?

Thanks,
Michael