Rubens: There's nothing to complain about

In the wake of Barrichello's 0.01s win, Schumacher said that he had tried to orchestrate a dead heat, but had narrowly failed. According to insiders, he did not intend to let his team-mate win.

Whatever the result, Barrichello was delighted with his own performance at Indianapolis after Ferrari allowed its drivers to race each other for the first time this season.

"I feel quite good, actually," he said. "I feel that I had a fantastic race. Michael and I were battling and I was pushing really hard after the first pit stop. I was on new tyres and, you know, gave Michael a really hard time. I pushed every button I could trying to pass him, but it wasn't possible.

"I don't feel bad. If the purists want to think that I won Austria and he won Indy, that's the end of it. Nothing to complain about!"

Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn said that the drivers were allowed to race until their second pit stops, then were told to cool it.

"You know," Schumacher said, "it's difficult for everyone to understand how much I had to fight to keep this guy behind me today..."