Barrichello salvages something for Ferrari

With Schumacher out, the Brazilian carried the flag for Ferrari as he finished third, despite damage from a nudge in the gearbox from Jarno Trulli at the first corner tussle which left his car almost undriveable with a damaged diffuser.

"I was lucky to survive to be honest," he said. "I was hit from behind by someone and had to go wide onto the gravel but I managed to power out of it. I dropped some places but I pushed hard afterwards and by the end of the race I was on the podium."

The Brazilian was the only driver on the same lap as the McLarens as Mika Hakkinen took victory and David Coulthard was second.

Schumacher had made an ambitious dive down the inside from the lights and was right alongside Barrichello when he was punted into retirement by the BAR-Honda of Ricardo Zonta.

"I didn't see very much of that," admitted Barrichello. "I saw Michael come down the inside and I didn't want to make any problems for him because we are team mates working together for Ferrari so I moved over.

"He was knocked off and I got away with it but my car was undriveable until I pitted and we made an adjustment to the front wing which gave me back some downforce. Unfortunately by then it was too late to challenge for the win."

Despite speculation that Barrichello had slowed to let Schumacher pass - causing the first corner fracas - the Brazilian denied he had let Schumacher through. "The first corner I race for myself," he insisted.

He keeps a firm hold on fourth place in the championship with 36 points, 12 behind Hakkinen, who is third, and 18 clear of Giancarlo Fisichella, who failed to score for the second race in succession.

For full race results click here.