Schumacher leads Ferrari
one-two at Imola
Alan Baldwin
Michael Schumacher celebrated another Ferrari record on Sunday with a commanding one-two victory in a processional San Marino Formula One Grand Prix.
Racing before a red army of Italian fans, the four times world champion led from start to finish, except during his two pit stops when Brazilian team mate Rubens Barrichello took over.
According to Ferrari it was his 97th start for the team -- although there is some debate over the figures -- which makes him the driver with most races for the most glamorous and historic team in the sport.
Barrichello was second, 17.9 seconds behind, as the expected rain held off and Williams failed to mount a real threat at Ferrari's home circuit named after team founder Enzo and son Dino.
It was Schumacher's 56th career victory, his third of the season, and left him 14 points clear of his brother and nearest rival Ralf in the championship after four races.
Ralf, winner here last year for his first career victory, was third ahead of Williams team mate Juan Pablo Montoya.
Renault's young Briton Jenson Button was fifth, scoring for his third straight race, while compatriot David Coulthard was sixth for McLaren.
Barrichello's points were his first of the year after three successive retirements. It was Ferrari's first one-two finish since last year's Hungarian Grand Prix when Schumacher clinched his fourth title.
NO COLLISIONS
After three races rich in drama and controversy after a succession of first lap incidents and collisions, the first European race of the season fell flat.
Schumacher powered away from the grid to lead into the first corner while Ralf seized second from Barrichello, pushed back into third place.
The only incident was the immediate retirement of Toyota's Allan McNish and the race quickly settled down into a display of formation driving with McLaren, Renault, Sauber, BAR and Arrows racing two by two.
There was a dearth of overtaking -- one in 62 laps -- and it took the first planned pit stops at the halfway point to shake up the order, with Barrichello regaining second place.
Sauber's Nick Heidfeld, in his team's 150th race, had a torrid time after a fuel rig problem forced him to make another unscheduled stop and he was then given a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pit lane.
Jordan, who have yet to score a point this season, left empty handed with neither Italian Giancarlo Fisichella nor Japan's Takuma Sato making the finish.
