Montoya eats into Schumacher lead

Michael Schumacher, who has not won for five races since the Canadian Grand Prix in June, gradually built-up a lead of 3.5seconds over Montoya at the end of the 10th lap of the 53-lap race.

However, Montoya gained a second when the two pit-stopped and the Colombian put the foot down to narrow the gap further as the two began to encounter back-markers.

Team-mate Rubens Barrichello is third with McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen – the other main championship contender back in fourth spot.

Fellow McLaren driver David Coulthard was running fifth after making his first pit-stop after 11 laps.

Italian Grand Prix latest (after 26 laps):

1 M Schumacher, Ferrari

2 JP Montoya, BMW-Williams

3 R Barrichello, Ferrari

4 K Raikkonen, McLaren

5 D Coulthard, McLaren

6 M Gene, BMW-Williams

7 J Villeneuve, BAR-Honda

8 O Panis, Toyota

Retired:

Button, BAR-Honda

Da Matta, Toyota

Wilson, Jaguar

Trulli, Renault