Ferrari Set Up Title Thriller

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher has returned to the fold of potential world champions after his victory in the Italian Grand Prix.

Overshadowed on the day by the death of a fire marshal, who was hit by debris after a six car pile-up, Schumacher's win at Monza has lined up an engrossing finish to the season.

With world champion Mika Hakkinen taking second place, the Finn's lead over Schumacher in the standings was cut to just two points with three races left.

Ferrari fans have every reason to be optimistic as the F1 circus leaves European shores.

The 41st victory of Schumacher's career not only drew him level with Brazilian Ayrton Senna in the record books, but also delivered Ferrari's seventh win of the year.

Excitement At Ferrari

It is the first time the Italian team has scored seven victories in a season since 1953 - when Italian Alberto Ascari won the second of his two world titles.

"We're more than encouraged with today's result," said Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn.

"The points margin now makes it very exciting for us and we're effectively looking at a three-race championship."

Schumacher was in a strong position in mid-season after winning the opening three races and five of the first eight.

But the German then failed to win in five successive races and surrendered the championship lead to Hakkinen, winner of the last two world titles.

Now the two men will be continuing their battle in the United States, Japan and Malaysia.

Coping With Pressure

"Michael drove a great race with a perfect car run by a perfect team with a perfect performance," said Ferrari sporting director Jean Todt.

"We are now two points down in the drivers' championship, so we have staged a good comeback. It was very important to win at Monza in front of our own fans, even with the pressure we have been under for the past few weeks."

Sunday's victory not only lifted confidence and morale, but also showed the team had overcome a problem with tyre degradation.

"The tyres were great all the way up to the first pit stop and after that we just took it easy," Brawn said.

"This is encouraging for us because it was in circumstances like today's that we were always struggling at the beginning of the season."

Hakkinen Remains Defiant

Despite the upturn in Ferrari's fortunes, Hakkinen remained defiant about the next race, F1's first at Indianapolis in modern times.

"The next race is going to be very difficult for everybody to find the right set-up for the car and find the right gear-ratios and downforce and the right balance and the correct lines on the track," Hakkinen said.

"It's all going to be a bit of a gamble. It is going to be difficult.

"But after that, Japan is a track I know well, so I believe our competitiveness should be good over there. And we were quick in Malaysia also -- I think it is going to be very interesting."

Schumacher was similarly upbeat, saying: "I believe that for the rest of the season, we should be able to fight for further victories.

"Whether we achieve them or not is another question. But if it is at Indy, or other circuits, I don't honestly care..."