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Schumacher wins as Ralf lies in hospital
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-06-21 10:38

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher has screamed to his eighth win in nine races in an action-packed US Grand Prix that left younger brother Ralf in hospital.

It was the world champion's 78th career win and he had to fight for it, jousting with Brazilian team mate Rubens Barrichello in a rare treat for race fans used to Ferrari processions.

Barrichello had started on pole position for the first time this year but again finished a disappointed runner-up, 2.9 seconds behind, for dominant Ferrari's sixth one-two of the season.

Japan's Takuma Sato took the final podium place for BAR while Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya was disqualified for the second race in a row.

Schumacher has 80 points to Barrichello's 62 but the six times champion's immediate concern after his third U.S. win was for his brother, whose Williams crashed at the fastest point of the circuit.

Schumacher had to drive repeatedly past an ambulance and doctors tending to Ralf in the wrecked chassis in the middle of the track before he got reassurance that his sibling was not seriously hurt.

"I was shocked when I saw it was Ralf," he said. "I saw the way he hit the barriers so I was very concerned."

"I just got the info that Ralf is okay and that's all that matters," he added.

The incident looked serious, with Ralf agonisingly slow to move after the car came to a halt.

Michael glanced across anxiously as he went past and revealed later that he had been concerned to the end, mindful of past incidents where he had been assured that all was alright only to find out otherwise afterwards.

Demolition derby

Italian Jarno Trulli was fourth for Renault ahead of Toyota's French veteran Olivier Panis, who was celebrating his 150th race.

Finland's Kimi Raikkonen was sixth in a McLaren with team mate David Coulthard seventh. Hungarian Zsolt Baumgartner took the first point of his career for struggling Minardi as the last runner on the track. It was the team's first point since March 2002.

Champions Ferrari have 142 points to Renault's 66 with BAR on 58. McLaren meanwhile moved up from sixth to fifth place, back in front of Sauber.

Barrichello had mixed feelings about the result: "I really had a car to win the race today," he said. "So that is why I am a little bit sorry, despite the great result."

Sato's podium was his first and equalled the best finish by a Japanese driver, Aguri Suzuki's third place for Lola in his home race 14 years ago. It also ended a run of retirements due to blown engines.

The safety car was twice deployed in a race that looked immediately like a demolition derby.

The first intervention was after four cars tangled at the second corner after the start. When it came in after four laps, Schumacher seized the lead from Barrichello with a slipstream manoeuvre into the first corner.

It was a short-lived interlude, the safety car deployed again on the 11th lap when Ralf spun and piled into the wall backwards.

Overnight star

The team said the driver would stay in hospital overnight.

"He is obviously in a lot of pain, everything works, his stomach's a bit upset, pretty bruised but basically sound," said team boss Frank Williams.

Spaniard Fernando Alonso, in a Renault, had earlier crashed on the start-finish straight as well.

Alonso's rear right tyre blew as he approached the first corner, pitching his car nose first into the wall and demolishing advertising hoardings in the run-off.



 
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