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| October 1, 2002 | Tuesday | Rajab 23, 1423 |
Barrichello scores fourth win
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept 30: Brazilian Rubens Barrichello was handed a fourth win of the Formula One season on Sunday as Ferrari painted the town red with another one-two finish in the US Grand Prix.
The Brazilian had followed team mate and world champion Michael Schumacher from the start but won by the blink of an eye as the German slowed at the finish and the two cars crossed the line side by side.
The Ferrari duo, who have already sewn up both championships with Schumacher taking his fifth title two months ago, also reached another milestone in a season of domination.
Their eighth one-two of the season — and fourth in succession — was the 14th of their partnership at Ferrari and equalled the achievements of Formula One’s most successful pairing.
The late Brazilian Ayrton Senna and Frenchman Alain Prost, both champions and fierce rivals in contrast to Ferrari’s policy of favouring Schumacher, had 14 one-two finishes at McLaren in 1988 and 1989.
Barrichello’s win before a crowd of around 150,000 also paved the way for a final flourish at Suzuka next month, with Ferrari now just a race away from equalling McLaren’s 1988 record of 15 wins in a season.
The Brazilian was confirmed as runner-up in the championship, the best placing of his career.
McLaren’s David Coulthard finished third, ahead of Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya in a Williams and Italian Jarno Trulli for Renault.
Canadian Jacques Villeneuve, like Montoya a former Indy 500 winner, finished sixth to take a crucial point that lifted British American Racing alongside Honda-powered rivals Jordan in the standings.
Schumacher — a winner at The Brickyard in 2000 — and Barrichello started side by side for the fifth time this season and made a clean and uneventful getaway.
As they powered off into a private and one-sided battle, with Schumacher calmly leading Barrichello for lap after lap, Williams provided the main talking point with a nightmare start that killed off their podium hopes.
Ralf Schumacher had slipped ahead of team mate Montoya off the starting grid and they collided as the Colombian tried to regain fourth place into the first corner on the second lap.
The German’s car skidded on the kerb and the rear spun out and clouted Montoya’s.
Ralf’s rear wing was knocked off in the impact while Montoya went careering over the grass before rejoining without apparent damage.
Schumacher then endured a one minute, nine second wait in the pits while a new wing was fitted and rejoined the race in last place — a lap behind older brother Michael.
“I couldn’t see what part of his car hit me. He pushed me off the track and that was about it,” said Montoya.
Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen had another frustrating day for McLaren, sidelined by a blown engine while sixth and failing to finish for the 10th time this season.
Results: 1. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Ferrari one hour 31 minutes 07.934 seconds (average speed 201.475 kph); 2. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari 1:31:07.945; 3. David Coulthard (Britain) McLaren 1:31:15.733; 4. Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) Williams 1:31:17.845; 5. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Renault 1:32:04.781; 6. Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) BAR 1:32:06.146; 7. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Jordan 1 lap behind; 8. Jenson Button (Britain) Renault 1 lap; 9. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) Sauber 1 lap; 10. Eddie Irvine (Britain) Jaguar 1 lap; 11. Takuma Sato (Japan) Jordan 1 lap; 12. Olivier Panis (France) BAR 1 lap; 13. Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Germany) Sauber 2 laps; 14. Mika Salo (Finland) Toyota 2 laps; 15. Allan McNish (Britain) Toyota 2 laps; 16. Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Williams 2 laps.
Not classified (did not finish): Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) McLaren 50 laps completed; Alex Yoong (Malaysia) Minardi 46 laps; Mark Webber (Australia) Minardi 38 laps; Pedro de la Rosa (Spain) Jaguar 27.
Fastest lap: Barrichello 1:12.738 on lap 27—Reuters
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