Rain mars GP start

Torrential rain ruined the start of the Brazilian Grand Prix and forced the drivers to begin the race behind a safety car before Kimi Raikkonen took charge.

The safety car headed the field at the start – which was delayed by 15 minutes - with rivers of water pouring over the track and all cars struggling to maintain any grip.

Antonio Pizzonia, Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Jos Verstappen all started the race from the pit lane – less of a penalty under safety car conditions and a tactic deployed to allow teams to add extra fuel to their cars.

Englishman Ralph Firman did not take the start however after his Jordan was wheeled off the grid prior to the start and he joined the fray well after his rivals had begun the first lap.

With no overtaking allowed behind the safety car, Ferrari’s Rubens Barrichello led ahead of McLaren’s David Coulthard with the Jaguar of Mark Webber third.

The safety car came in on lap 63, and Coulthard promptly took the lead at the first corner while Nick Heidfeld retired his Sauber.

Coulthard pulled out a significant advantage while championship leader Raikkonen made his move, overtaking Webber and Barrichello to claim second before closing right up to his team-mate.

Raikkonen almost nipped past Coulthard but backed out of a move as Juan Pablo Montoya closed in third. On lap 10 Raikkonen made the move stick on the first corner and seconds later Montoya robbed the Scot of second.

Ralf Schumacher span across the track on lap 11 while Michael Schumacher took fifth off Barrichello as the Brazilian floundered.

Coulthard reclaimed second place when Montoya got a slow exit from the penultimate corner and the Colombian soon came under attack from Webber and Schumacher.

Five-times world champion Schumacher squeezed past Webber at the end of lap 15 and set about challenging Montoya for third, moving into the podium places just a few corners later.

Coulthard upped the pressure on Raikkonen – who scored his first grand prix victory in Malaysia two weeks ago – with a series of fastest laps.

Montoya continued to struggle badly and was soon delaying Webber and allowing Barrichello to catch the battle for fourth.

Justin Wilson’s race ended on lap 17 when he span his Minardi off the track while Firman was lucky to walk away from a frightening accident on the start-finish straight.

The front suspension broke on his Jordan and he ploughed into a concrete wall before spearing the back of Olivier Panis’ Toyota. Both drivers were unhurt but the trail of debris forced the safety car out again.

Schumacher and Coulthard both pitted immediately, with the Scot emerging ahead before the majority of the drivers dived in to change tyres and refuel.

Raikkonen suffered by turning down the chance to pit and he led from Coulthard, who was able to rejoin in second and catch the Finn, who was slowed by the safety car.

Raikkonen held the lead when the safety car headed into the pits with Barrichello overtaking Montoya and Cristiano da Matta to move into fourth.

Montoya’s race ended on lap 25 when he spun into the barrier on turn three and as he sat in his Williams, Pizzonia repeated the trick and gently glided into the Colombian’s stricken car.

At the same point Schumacher pirouetted off the track and thumped the barrier, glancing Pizzonia’s Jaguar on the way in an accident which brought out the safety car again.

Raikkonen pitted instantly, as did Da Matta to leave Coulthard out front with Barrichello second.

At the restart Ralf Schumacher flew past Barrichello for second before drifting wide to allow the Brazilian back through.