Race: Pizzonia takes stunning first win

The Brazilian got the better of a sensational battle with series leader Justin Wilson, who finished second ahead of Pizzonia's Petrobras team mate Ricardo Sperafico.

Poleman Sperafico got a bootful of wheelspin at the start but swerved across the grid to block Wilson, who lost his second place to Nordic team mate Tomas Enge as a result on the frantic run to the first chicane. Wilson repassed Enge at the Ostkurve, where fourth placed Andrea Piccini (European Minardi) spun out.

Wilson was now on a charge and just squeezed past Sperafico for the lead at the Agip Kurve on the entry to the stadium. Pizzonia, who had already found a way past Enge for third, now attacked his team mate and almost drove into the back of Sperafico at the Sachskurve.

He dealt with his fellow Brazilian a few corners later and set his sights on Wilson, benefiting from the lower downforce rear wing set-up of his car on the long straights of the German GP venue. After they almost collided at the Ostkurve, Pizzonia finally got ahead of Wilson at the Ayrton Senna chicane on lap three and didn't look back from then on.

While all this was going on, Darren Manning's attempt to wrest fifth place from Tomas Scheckter ended in the Ostkurve gravel trap on the second lap.

Enge moved back into third at the Ostkurve on lap four and closed on Wilson's second place, despite straightlining the third chicane on lap five. Enge was right behind his team mate when ran wide at the first corner, touched the gravel and spun down to sixth on lap eight.

The Czech recovered quickly and passed Silverstone winner Sebastien Bourdais for fifth at the Senna chicane four laps after his spin. That became fourth place when Scheckter retired into the pits soon after with a mechanical problem.

With Pizzonia disappearing away down the road, Wilson kept Sperafico at bay to take second and increase his series lead to ten points over Mark Webber, who was an opening lap casualty when he lost his front wing on the rear of Manning's car.

"I knew I had a good car for the race and had been a bit unlucky in qualifying," said Pizzonia. "It's easy to slipstream here but it's still not easy to overtake. I had a big lock up when I tried to pass Justin which flat-spotted my tyres, so I pushed hard after that to build a safe gap. It feels good to be back on the top step of the podium."

Wilson, who took his fourth runner-up spot in five races, said: "All in all I'm fairly happy because my title lead has grown. I just wasn't as quick on the straights as I needed to be to win."

Enge made a brave bid for third at Agip kurve with three laps to go, but Sperafico just managed to hold him off. Another do-or-die effort at the same place on the final lap ended in the gravel, from which Enge was lucky to escape in fifth.

"I passed him when he spun but when I looked in my mirrors he was there again - I couldn't believe it!" said Sperafico of his Nemesis. "I was struggling with my tyres, which were too hot, but it was a fun race, although I'm a bit disappointed."

For full race results, click here.

For full championship standings, click here.