Ferrari Close 20-Year Gap with Imola One-Two

Michael Schumacher led Ferrari's celebrations on Sunday by winning a San Marino Grand Prix that revived memories of one of the more poignant, and dark, races in their past.

The four times Formula One World Champion led Brazilian Rubens Barrichello to Ferrari's first one-two finish at their home circuit since 1982.

While that earlier win will be forever etched in the memory of the team's fans for the lingering sense of treachery and tragedy, Sunday's triumph was a straightforward case of domination.

Imola in 1982 turned out to be the last race for Canadian Gilles Villeneuve, father of 1997 World Champion Jacques and lasting idol of the 'tifosi', who died in practice for the Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder two weeks later.

Villeneuve finished that day as runner-up to teammate Didier Pironi, who died five years later, and was furious that the Frenchman had broken a gentleman's agreement between the two by overtaking him.

Pironi, whose Formula One career ended a few months later with a big accident at the German Grand Prix, never escaped accusations by Ferrari fans that his actions had driven Villeneuve to his death. Sunday's race was very different.

It was a prosaic contrast to three controversy-filled races so far this season, with just one overtaking manoeuvre involving two cars fighting in mid-table.

It was also a processional 62 laps, with Schumacher dominating the proceedings from start to finish before the inevitable track invasion by flag-waving fans to cheer the men in scarlet spraying champagne on the podium.

Record Breaker

Schumacher was fastest after every free practice session, took pole position and was never in any danger of being overtaken by his teammate.

"There are many reasons to be proud and happy today," said the German after a race in which he was acclaimed by Ferrari as the driver to have made most starts for the team since they entered the first Grand Prix in 1950.

"We failed last year after a lot of hopes, both Rubens and myself, and we couldn't deliver as much as we were expecting," he added. "This year we've given something back to the tifosi."

Schumacher failed to finish last year, arriving as Championship leader and leaving with McLaren's David Coulthard level in the standings. This year he leaves with a 14-point advantage and rivals, even closest adversaries Williams, staring at another Ferrari year of domination in the making.

"It's the first home Grand Prix for us this year. It is as special Grand Prix for me here today in the history of Ferrari, so I am more than proud to have done it this way," said Schumacher.

He has been at Ferrari for 97 races now, since he won two world titles with Benetton in 1994 and 1995, and he took the opportunity to pay tribute to one of those team members who generally remain behind the scenes.

South African designer Rory Byrne was one of the men who, along with technical designer Ross Brawn, followed Schumacher from Benetton to Maranello.

"He's a unique person, there's no doubt," said Schumacher of Byrne, the man hailed as the architect of the team's title winning cars.

"What he's been delivering to Ferrari I think is such a consistently good job that we can be more than proud to have a person like him in the team."