Schumacher reigns in Spain

Michael Schumacher led the race from start to finish

By Andrew Benson BBC Sport Online motorsport editor in Barcelona

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Michael Schumacher turned the Spanish Grand Prix into a crushing demonstration of Ferrari's superiority in Formula One by cruising to the 57th Grand Prix victory of his career.

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The world champion led home Juan Pablo Montoya's Williams and McLaren driver David Coulthard, who secured his first podium finish of the year.

Montoya's second place moves him up ahead of his team-mate Ralf Schumacher as Michael Schumacher's closest championship challenger, albeit 21 points - more than two clear wins - behind.

Montoya survived a nervous moment at his second pit stop when he was signalled to pull away before the crew had finished refuelling him.

Spanish GP result

1st: Michael Schumacher

2nd: Juan Pablo Montoya

3rd: David Coulthard

4th: Nick Heidfeld

5th: Felipe Massa

6th: Heinz-Harald Frentzen

The mechanic operating the stop/go board was knocked over, but Montoya got going again in time to ensure he did not lose second place.

Earlier in the race, the two Williams drivers staged an intense but brief battle for second place, which Montoya won in a manner that could prove hugely significant in the intra-team fight between the two men this season.

Montoya, who had qualified a place behind Ralf, had closed remorsely on his team-mate leading up to the first of their two pit stops.

Ralf managed to get out ahead, but after the Colombian brought the gap down to less than a second, Schumacher pushed too hard trying to stay ahead.

He went into the 120mph Campsa corner too fast on lap 29 and ran wide.

Michael Schumacher built a big lead from the start

The car bounced over the kerb as Montoya shot past into second place and the German had to make a pit stop to change a damaged front wing.

Ralf recovered to finish 11th, out of the points.

Montoya said: "We knew this was going to be a difficult race for us, but made the best of it, and I'm actually pretty pleased to come away from here with second place."

Ahead of the Williams drivers, Schumacher had blasted away from the chasing Williams-BMWs from the start, building his lead at close to a second a lap, and was never headed thereafter.

This was his fourth win in five races so far this year.

I benefited from other people's misfortunes but that's motor racing

David Coulthard

Schumacher's superiority was underlined by a series of fastest laps, including a new lap record of one minute 20.355 seconds, 0.8secs quicker than his own mark set last year.

Coulthard's was a brave drive to third place - he had watched his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen retire on lap three when his rear wing collapsed on the straight at more than 180mph.

"I benefited from other people's misfortunes," Coulthard said, "but that's motor racing."

Minardi had earlier decided not to race after a third wing failure, but McLaren opted to keep the Scot out and the decision proved to be the correct one.

Coulthard was followed home by the Saubers of Nick Heidfeld and Felipe Massa and the Arrows of Heinz-Harald Frentzen.

Renault's Jarno Trulli had been on course to take fourth before he was slowed by engine and throttle problems which eventually forced him into retirement.

His team-mate Jenson Button, who had earlier battled with Trulli and Coulthard for third place, suffered a similar fate, although his problems were with his car's hydraulic systems.

Ferrari number two Rubens Barrichello, who had qualified in second place behind Schumacher, was sidelined before the start with gear selection problems.

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Results:

1 Michael Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari
2 Juan Pablo Montoya (Col) Williams
3 David Coulthard (GB) McLaren
4 Nick Heidfeld (Ger) Sauber
5 Felipe Massa (Bra) Sauber
6 Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Ger) Arrows

Championship positions after five of 17 races

1 M Schumacher 44
2 Montoya 23
3 Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Williams 20
4 Coulthard 9
5 Button 8
6 Rubens Barrichello (Bra) Ferrari 6