Race report: DC ends Schuey's streak

Throw in a first ever podium finish for Sauber's Nick Heidfeld, another disastrous no-score for Mika Hakkinen after stalling on the starting grid, plus a coming together for Rubens Barrichello and Ralf Schumacher that put the local hero out of his hometown race once again and the 2001 Brazilian GP practically had it all.

Oh, and get this... When was the last time Michael Schumacher was passed for the lead not just once, but twice in a single Grand Prix? Well, it happened in Brazil. Crazy country, crazy race.

In the world championship standings, DC closes to within six points of Schuey, moving to 20 compared to the German's 26, while the Scot's victory puts McLaren on 21 constructors' points compared to the 36 of early-season pace-setters Ferrari.

"I'll count my world championship position at the end of the season, not now," said a circumspect, but happy Coulthard. "There's still a long way to go."

Ron Dennis was equally taciturn - and obviously equally elated to end a six-race losing streak that adds up to a drought in McLaren terms.

"Winning races is what we're here to do," he said. "It's our job. It was a good job and a great drive by David."

Barrichello was in trouble even before the start when his Ferrari stopped on its lap out of the pits and the Brazilian was forced to sprint back for the spare (set up for Schumacher). The Paulista made it on to the grid with just 20 seconds to spare, but might as well have not bothered.

At the start, Michael powered into the lead, but was chased into the first corner not by his brother and fellow front row-sitter Ralf, but by Schumacher Jr's Williams team mate Montoya. Behind them, Hakkine bogged and stalled on the grid and waved frantically as the rest of the grid telepathically parted to pass him without contact. But with nowhere to take the stranded McLaren in a hurry, the Safety Car was summoned to lead a train headed by Schumacher, Montoya, Jarno Trulli's Jordan, Ralf Schumacher and Heinz-Harald Frentzen in the other Jordan.

The silver Mercedes pulled off to allow the field to go racing again on lap three. But with so little accelerating distance between the pit lane entry and the startline, Montoya was able to stay close on the Ferrari's tail and use the Williams-BMW's superior straightline speed to move inside and muscle past Schumacher through Curva 1. For the former Champ Car ace with the freakish car control, it was just another restart - another day at the office.

For the next 23 laps - until the end of lap 25 - the Colombian's Michelin-shod car held the Ferrari and its Bridgestones at bay, with Coulthard holding station in third. The Williams had its share of twitches and catches, but still seemed secure in the lead as Schumacher and DC both held a watching brief until the pit stops.

Schumacher was the first to pit, peeling off on his two-stop strategy at the start of lap 26 and remaining stationary for 9.6s. But the McLaren and the Williams were both primed to one-stop and stayed out for lap after lap.

Behind them, two more pre-race contenders for victory had already been put out of the running as Barrichello and Ralf collided on the run to the first corner (see separate story), but it was altogether stranger circumstances which claimed Montoya on lap 39 (see separate story). The Colombian had just lapped Jos Verstappen's Arrows, but was rammed from behind in the braking area for Reta Oposto as the Dutchman appeared to be sucked into the back of the Williams. Both cars flew off in a storm of carbon fibre, with Verstappen lucky not to flip.

One lap later, new leader David Coulthard finally pitted and then re-emerged to snick into the lead just ahead of Schumacher. But with rain beginning to fall, the order was about to be shaken up again.

Olivier Panis had moved up to third in his BAR-Honda, but lost out when he pitted for wets on lap 46 and found himself in a queue behind Jacques Villeneuve, who was enduring a lacklustre afternoon. Schumacher came in moments after for intermediates, but once again McLaren seemed to leave it one lap too late, with Coulthard not taking his Bridgestone inters until lap 47.

But when your lucks with you, it's with you, and as Schumacher half-spun when clipping a white line on lap 48, the McLaren was suddenly right with him.

Two laps later, heading into the first corner, Coulthard jinked out of the Ferrari's slipstream and, using the Minardi of Tarso Marques as a foil, went down the inside and into the lead. With Schumacher on the outside of the Ferrari, that was it - game over for Schuey's hopes of seven wins from pole on the trot.

A second part-spin for Schuey put the matter beyond doubt and in the final reckoning, the Scot crossed the line 16.1s ahead of the Ferrari, having noticeably eased off in the final handful of laps.

The duo had lapped every other car in the field as DC came home for the 10th GP win of his career. But more importantly, with the European season about to begin and McLaren promising a development blitz on its MP4-16s, it means Coulthard is finally in a genuine position to take the fight to Michael Schumacher.

But even with Mika Hakkinen marooned on a single point, Coulthard sees no reason to expect special treatment from his team.

"I think the team always has two equal cars anyway," he said, "so it's really not an issue."

Nick Heidfeld drove with maturity to avoid trouble, pass Jarno Trulli's Jordan and take his first GP podium. He was helped by the demise of Heinz-Harald Frentzen's Jordan and by Panis's pitstop problems, but it was still an excellent result for the German.

"I went for a normal dry set-up," he said. "It's incredible for me and I'm really happy for the team."

Panis was left to rue what might have been with a charge back to fourth, ahead of Jarno Trulli and - amazingly - the Benetton-Renault of Giancarlo Fisichella. The Italian's radical but recalcitrant wide-angle V10 was partly flattered by the conditions, but it was a great result in what has been a character-building season so far for Renault's return to the big time. It was also the highest place for Michelin in a race which promised much, but delivered little.

The Formula 1 circus finally heads home after a three-race non-European swing. Next up is the San Marino Grand Prix, the final race before the re-introduction of reactive traction control. McLaren had promised the fightback would start at Imola, but on this showing, the Woking-based team was one race out.

For full results to the Brazilian Grand Prix click here.