Montoya claims first F1 win

Juan Pablo Montoya: First win in 15 F1 races

Juan Pablo Montoya won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, where the pre-race build-up was dominated by talk of a no-passing pact.

World champion Michael Schumacher led the calls for no overtaking on the first two chicanes in the interests of a safe start.

Recent events in America, and the horrific accident suffered by Cart driver Alex Zanardi in Germany on Saturday were weighing heavily on many drivers' minds.

But not all were in favour of a non-racing getaway, and team bosses were against the plan which was dropped shortly before start.

Having claimed his third pole position in 15 races, Montoya achieved his first F1 win with a solid display.

Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello was second and Montoya's Williams team-mate Ralf Schumacher took the final podium spot.

Britain's Jenson Button got off to a flier from 11th on the grid but then took Jordan's Jarno Trulli out of the race after braking late too on the first bend.

Montoya started solidly from pole position and held the lead until lap nine when he was passed by Barichello.

The Ferrari driver stayed ahead for another nine laps but a poor pitstop of over 16 seconds destroyed his advantage.

Extended lead

Montoya then built up a 20-second lead over Ralf Schumacher by the end of lap 25.

His 11-second stop three laps later handed the lead back to Barrichello, and the Colombian rejoined the race in third.

Schumacher favoured a non-racing start

Barrichello extended his lead to more than 10 seconds by the 38th lap, but his second stop put Montoya back in front, followed by Williams team-mate Ralf Schumacher.

Barrichello pushed hard, forcing Schumacher to cut illegally across a corner to hold him off on lap 47, and the German then allowed him to overtake.

The Brazilian eroded Montoya's lead slightly in the closing stages but the Colombian stayed cool to seal his maiden F1 victory.

The 53-lap race at one of F1's fastest circuits saw nine retirements.

Eddie Irvine's race for Jaguar ended on lap 14 with technical problems, while the McLarens of David Coulthard (blown engine, lap 6) and Milka Hakkinen (gearbox failure, lap 19) were among the other non-finishers.

Italian Grand Prix results:

1 Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) Williams
2 Rubens Barrichello (Bra) Ferrari
3 Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Williams
4 Michael Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari
5 Pedro de la Rosa (Can) BAR
6 Jacques Villeneuve (Can) BAR
7 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Sauber
8 Jean Alesi (Fra) Jordan
9 Olivier Panis (Fra) BAR
10 Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Benetton

Retirements:
Jarno Trulli (Ita) Jordan
Jenson Button (GB) Benetton
David Coulthard (GB) McLaren
Eddie Irvine (GB) Jaguar
Mika Hakkinen (Fin) McLaren
Jos Verstappen (Ned) Arrows
Heinz Harald Frentzen (Ger) Prost
Alex Yoong (Mal) Minardi
Enrique Bernoldi (Bra) Arrows