JPM: Safety car made my race

"The safety car decided the race... actually it made my race," said Montoya. "I lost some time at the start of the race due to the high fuel load but I had to go as far as I could before the pit stop and that paid off."

Montoya completed the 71-lap race on just one set of his Michelin tyres after he opted to use the harder compound of French rubber.

"Our decision to go for the hard tyres also paid off," he explained. "The tyres were very consistent and I could keep them on until the end of the race. With regards to the accident between Heidfeld and Sato, I was very lucky because my car wasn't touched at all. I was on the inside of Sato then I heard a big bang but I couldn't even see what had happened."

Ironically his Williams team mate Ralf Schumacher believes that the safety car spoiled the German's race. Montoya nicked ahead of Schumacher at their round of pit stops, demoting Ralf to fourth.

"For me everything was just perfect," said Schumacher. "The car, the engine, the tyres and the pit stop. I think that without the safety car periods I could have defended my third position.

"Due to the action packed race and the different strategies it is difficult to say how big Ferrari's advantage really was here. We have to continue to work hard, this much is clear."