Ralf Glad to Finally Win from Pole

Germany's Ralf Schumacher was delighted after winning the French Grand Prix as his Williams team celebrated their second one-two finish in the space of a week.

Ralf led from start to finish, taking the chequered flag 13.8 seconds ahead of his Colombian teammate Juan Pablo Montoya in a race with few thrills and even less overtaking. Ralf's brother Michael finished in third position for his Ferrari team.

"I can't believe it. Two wins in a row and finally from pole position," said the Williams driver, who had never before won from the top slot on the grid. "I was able to disappear after the first pitstop, basically."

It was Ralf's sixth career win and, following his home triumph at the Nurburgring last weekend, intensified the title battle with six Grands Prix remaining.

Ferrari's Schumacher has now 64 points, while McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen is on 56 and Ralf on 53. Ralf rarely put a wheel wrong until five laps from home when he alarmed his pit crew by running slightly wide.

"Maybe I was thinking about something else," he said. "No, I just braked a bit late. But my team came on straight away to ask if everything was alright."