McLaren Endure Racing Nightmare in Spain

McLaren's Formula One championship challenge was thrown off track on Sunday as title frontrunners Kimi Raikkonen and David Coulthard became Spanish Grand Prix spectators.

With Ferrari's five-times World Champion Michael Schumacher leading from pole position on the race debut of their new F2003-GA car, McLaren's race was over after a mere 18 of the 65 scheduled laps.

The Mercedes-powered team led champions Ferrari by 19 points in the standings before the race and could not be overhauled on Sunday.

Raikkonen, who leads Coulthard by 13 points and Schumacher by 14 in the title race, saw his hopes of a fifth successive podium vanish within seconds of the start, even though his overall lead was also safe.

The 23-year-old Finn started at the back of the grid after a mistake in qualifying on Saturday and smashed into the rear of Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia's Jaguar.

The accident was charged with irony, McLaren and Jaguar locked all week in a tug-of-war for the services of McLaren's Austrian test driver Alexander Wurz as a replacement for the under-performing Pizzonia.

The Brazilian appeared almost to stall as Raikkonen accelerated fiercely behind him, the impact shattering the front of the McLaren and leaving the Finn no hope of continuing.

McLaren's nightmare continued when Coulthard went into the gravel at the second corner after tangling with the Renault of Jarno Trulli, who retired.

Coulthard returned to the pits and re-entered the race under the safety car in last place. He worked his way up to 11th place before going out at turn two after a nudge from compatriot Jenson Button in a BAR.

With the top two in the championship out of the running, Schumacher looked likely to cash in with his fifth career success in Barcelona and third in a row.

The German led after 31 of the 65 laps, ahead of local favourite Fernando Alonso in a Renault.