Montoya Scores Maiden F1 Win at Monza

Juan Pablo Montoya claimed his first-ever Grand Prix win and Williams' fourth victory of the year as the Colombian took full advantage of his pole position to finish 5.1 seconds ahead of Rubens Barrichello in Monza.

Montoya adopted a one-stop strategy that was enough to claim the win as Barrichello was forced to settle for runners-up spot as both Ferraris decided to stop twice. Ralf Schumacher held off brother Michael in third and fourth, while Pedro de la Rosa and Jacques Villeneuve secured the last points-scoring in fifth and sixth.

Despite morning discussions to the contrary, it was a normal start as Jordan's Jarno Trulli was left stranded in the middle of the first chicane after being nudged by Jenson Button, his teammate at Renault next season. Italian Trulli suffered engine problems and was forced out.

The leading four drivers got away as the Schumacher brothers battled for third. Colombian pole-sitter Montoya pulled away in the lead during the opening laps as second-placed Barrichello was unable to challenge.

Button went out with a blown engine in the early stages as McLaren's Mika Hakkinen dropped to 13th after he went on at the first chicane. Teammate David Coulthard also dropped out with a blown engine while in fifth place on the seventh lap.

While drama went on behind them, Barrichello put more pressure on Montoya and went past him to lead at the exit of the second chicane on the eighth lap as the Michelin tyres on the Williams quickly deteriorated.

Barrichello quickly moved into a 7.0-second lead on lap 14 as he attempted to move into second place in the Championship, while Malaysian Alex Yoong went off onto the grass and suffered a spin after running wide in his Minardi.

Jaguar's Eddie Irvine joined the list of retirements before both Ferraris came in for pit-stops. Leader Barrichello lost time as team mechanics struggled with the fuel nozzle during a 16.6-second stop.

Finland's Hakkinen joined teammate Coulthard on the sidelines as he pulled over to the side of the track with gearbox trouble on lap 21, while the two Williams cars forged ahead after the Ferrari pit-stops. Montoya opened up a 22-second lead on Ralf Schumacher before coming in for an 11.9-second stop on lap 28, which dropped him back behind Barrichello.

German Heinz-Harald Frentzen parked his Prost on the grass with technical problems as Ralf Schumacher came in for his pit-stop on lap 36, leaving Barrichello in the lead. But with both Ferraris on a two-stop strategy, Barrichello came out behind both Williams' drivers, but managed to pass second-placed Ralf Schumacher at the Parabolica on lap 48.

Malaysian Yoong beached his Minardi in the gravel at the exit of the first Lesmo to cap an unhappy debut as yellow flags waved while his car was lifted off the track. Arrows' Enrique Bernoldi also failed to complete race distance as he went out the race.

But the day belonged to Montoya, who bettered his previous two runners-up finishes to finally get the chance to step onto the top of the podium.

PROVISIONAL RACE RESULTS The Italian Grand Prix Monza, Milan; 53 laps; 306.764km; Weather: Dry, windy. Classified: Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time 1. Montoya Williams BMW (M) 1h 16:58.493 2. Barrichello Ferrari (B) + 5.175 3. R.Schumacher Williams BMW (M) + 17.335 4. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) + 24.991 5. de la Rosa Jaguar Cosworth (M) + 1:14.984 6. Villeneuve BAR Honda (B) + 1:22.469 7. Raikkonen Sauber Petronas (B) + 1:23.107 8. Alesi Jordan Honda (B) + 1 Lap 9. Panis BAR Honda (B) + 1 Lap 10. Fisichella Benetton Renault (M) + 1 Lap 11. Heidfeld Sauber Petronas (B) + 1 Lap 12. Enge Prost Acer (M) + 1 Lap 13. Alonso Minardi European (M) + 2 Laps Fastest Lap: R.Schumacher 1:25.073, lap 39 Not Classified/Retirements: Driver Team On Lap Bernoldi Arrows Asiatech 46 Yoong Minardi European 44 Frentzen Prost Acer 28 Verstappen Arrows Asiatech 26 Hakkinen McLaren Mercedes 19 Irvine Jaguar Cosworth 14 Coulthard McLaren Mercedes 6 Button Benetton Renault 4 Trulli Jordan Honda 1 World Championship Standing, Round 15: Drivers: Constructors: 1. M.Schumacher 107 WC 1. Ferrari 161 CC 2. Coulthard 57 2. McLaren 81 3. Barrichello 54 3. Williams 73 4. R.Schumacher 48 4. Sauber 20 5. Montoya 25 5. BAR 17 6. Hakkinen 24 6. Jordan 16 7. Villeneuve 12 7. Benetton 10 8. Heidfeld 11 8. Jaguar 7 9. Trulli 9 9. Prost 4 =. Raikkonen 9 10. Arrows 1 11. Fisichella 8 12. Frentzen 6 13. Panis 5 =. Alesi 5 15. Irvine 4 16. De la Rosa 3 17. Button 2 18. Verstappen 1 All timing unofficial