Formula 1

 
Schumacher wins first race of season (04/03/02)

Defending world champion Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) won the first race of the 2002 FIA Formula 1 season on Sunday in Melborne, Australia.
Teammate Rubens Barichello had qualified in pole position, Schumacher in second, his brother Ralf (BMW) in third, the two McLarens of David Coulthard and Kimi Raikonnen in 4th and 5th, with Juan Pablo Montoya (BMW) in sixth place. On the warm up lap both Arrows failed to get away, and although the rules state that you cannot continue, both cars eventually joined the race from the pits. Both were disqualified later for various disgretions.
Rubens Barichello and Ralf Schumacher both got good starts and Ralf tried numerous times to pass Barichello, who blocked him at least twice. When Rubens braked for the first corner, Ralf slammed into the back of the Ferrari, launching his BMW Williams into the air and off the track. The remaining field tried to steer clear of the danger, but Giancarlo Fisichella's Renault was also hit from the back, resulting in a mass pileup. Strangely enough the race wasn't stopped, but continued under pace-car conditions until the debris was cleared.
The drivers who retired as a result of this incident were Rubens Barichello (Ferrari), Ralf Schumacher (BMW Williams), Giancarlo Fisichella (Jordan), Felipe Massa and Nick Heidfeld (Sauber), Jenson Button (Renault), Olivier Panis (BAR) and Alan McNish (Toyota).
The restart saw David Coulthard in the lead, followed by Jarno Trulli (Renault), Juan Pablo Montoya and Michael Schumacher. While Coulthard disappeared into the distance, Schumacher was trying to pass Montoya. They fought for a couple of rounds until he passed Montoya on the outside of a corner. Schumacher then caught up to Trulli and again was held back, this time by a fiercely defending Renault. Trulli's luck ran out with a bizarre mid-corner tail-slide which ended him first in the wall, and then in the middle of the track.
The pace car came out again, and the action was set for Montoya behind Schumacher behind leader Coulthard. However, on the final corner before the restart, Coulthard outbreaked himself and went off the track. He rejoined in 4th behind his teammate but went off again a few laps later. His McLaren started underperforming, and although it did regain most of its power, it was only momentary and he retired later. 3 laps later the rear wing of Jacques Villeneuve's BAR flew off, sending him into the trackside gravel and early retirement from the race.
The rest of the race saw Michael Schmumacher retain the lead until the end, Kimi Raikonnen grabbed second place from Montoya with the help of a pit stop, but had a little excursion over the grass which gave Montoya second position again. Raikonnen thus came home in thrid, Eddie Irvine made it home in 4th place with his Jaguar, despite the two cars having qualified for the bottom of the field. Newcommer and local boy Mark Webber brought his Minardi home in 5th place, earning 2 world championship points in his first-ever race in front of his home crowd. The last point was secured by Mika Salo in the debutant Toyota car, his newcomer teammate Alan McNish falling prey to the first-corner incident.

Shopping for wheels- Replacing your ride? See our motoring reviews.