Montoya Takes Dominant Win at the German GP

Williams-BMW driver Juan Pablo Montoya claimed a dominant victory in the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim to close the gap on Michael Schumacher in the title race as the world champion suffered disappointment in his home race.

Montoya led from start to finish after avoiding first corner carnage which put championship frontrunners Kimi Raikkonen, Ralf Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello out of the Hockenheim race and the Colombian came home more than a minute clear.

It was Montoya's second win of the season and the third of his career as he closed to within six points of Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher at the head of the standings.

Schumacher finished seventh after suffering a puncture with just four laps remaining when running second, as he failed to take the full opportunity handed to him by Raikkonen's retirement.

David Coulthard claimed his first podium finish since winning the season-opening Australian Grand Prix as he came home second following an impressive drive for McLaren, with Jarno Trulli third for Renault.

Trulli's teammate Fernando Alonso finished fourth ahead of Toyota pair Olivier Panis and Cristiano Da Matta, with BAR-Honda's Jenson Button picking up the final point behind Schumacher.

The safety car was deployed immediately after Kimi Raikkonen was sent spinning out following a collision with Rubens Barrichello after the Ferrari driver had been squeezed across the track by Ralf Schumacher.

Schumacher pitted but damage to the side of his Williams-BMW was enough to force him out of the car and into retirement. Ralph Firman ran into the back of Heinz-Harald Frentzen in the aftermath and both exited the race.

Damage to Barrichello's Ferrari, which had been nudged across the track by Schumacher, also forced him out of the race to leave pole-sitter Montoya ahead of the Renaults of Trulli and Alonso and Ferrari driver Schumacher.

Jaguar's Wilson was forced to pit for repairs after being involved in two incidents, but he returned to the track a lap down intent on gaining experience in the car after having his front suspension fixed.

The Englishman eventually joined the list of retirements on lap 10, while Montoya set a series of fastest laps. The Colombian was left clear in front when second placed Trulli pitted on lap 14.

Montoya pitted at the end of lap 17 to leave Alonso in front, while world Champion Schumacher was called in immediately on the same lap for his first stop. Alonso and Coulthard both then pitted the following lap to leave the top-five places unchanges after the stops.

Minardi's Jos Verstappen became the seventh retirement from the race when he coasted to a halt on the circuit after making his second pit-stop.

Alonso made a mistake and Schumacher moved up to third, while Montoya opened a 25-second lead at half-race distance. He pitted for a second time but still emerged at the head of the field.

Coulthard got ahead of Alonso after his second stop to take fourth and continued to close in on Schumacher, while dominant leader Montoya easily retained first place after making the final of his three stops.

As Montoya ran on his own at the front, Trulli, Schumacher and Coulthard were involved in an intriguing battle for second, third and fourth place. Schumacher eventually got past to take second despite running wide.

Trulli then lost another place when Coulthard made the same move Schumacher performed to take a podium place. He got up to second when Schumacher suffered a puncture with just four laps remaining and dropped to seventh.

PROVISIONAL RACE RESULTS The German Grand Prix Hockenheim, Germany; 67 laps; 306.458km; Weather: Hot and dry. Classified: Pos Driver Team-Engine Tyres Time 1. Montoya Williams BMW (M) 1h28:48.769 2. Coulthard McLaren Mercedes (M) + 1:05.459 3. Trulli Renault (M) + 1:09.060 4. Alonso Renault (M) + 1:09.344 5. Panis Toyota (M) + 1 lap 6. da Matta Toyota (M) + 1 lap 7. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) + 1 lap 8. Button BAR Honda (B) + 1 lap 9. Villeneuve BAR Honda (B) + 2 laps 10. Heidfeld Sauber Petronas (B) + 2 laps 11. Webber Jaguar Cosworth (M) + 3 laps 12. Kiesa Minardi Cosworth (B) + 5 laps Fastest Lap: Montoya, 1:14.917, lap 14 Not Classified/Retirements: Driver Team On Lap Fisichella Jordan Ford (B) 61 Verstappen Minardi Cosworth (B) 24 Wilson Jaguar Cosworth (M) 6 R.Schumacher Williams BMW (M) 2 Frentzen Sauber Petronas (B) 2 Barrichello Ferrari (B) 1 Raikkonen McLaren Mercedes (M) 1 Firman Jordan Ford (B) 1 World Championship Standing, Round 12: Drivers: Constructors: 1. M.Schumacher 71 1. Ferrari 120 2. Montoya 65 2. Williams-BMW 118 3. Raikkonen 62 3. McLaren-Mercedes 103 4. R.Schumacher 53 4. Renault 66 5. Barrichello 49 5. BAR-Honda 15 6. Alonso 44 6. Toyota 14 7. Coulthard 41 7. Jaguar-Cosworth 12 8. Trulli 22 8. Jordan-Ford 11 9. Webber 12 9. Sauber 9 = Button 12 11. Fisichella 10 12. da Matta 8 13. Frentzen 7 14. Panis 6 15. Villeneuve 3 16. Heidfeld 2 17. Firman 1 All timing unofficial