Formula 1 news

Schumacher storms to Japanese victory

Michael Schumacher won his thirteenth Grand Prix of the season today at Suzuka in Japan. The German dominated proceedings leading from the start and never looking back. Brother Ralf finished second ahead of BAR Honda's Jenson Button.

Despite overcast conditions the track was dry and both air and track temperature reached twenty-eight degrees Centigrade for the start of the race. Michael Schumacher made a strong start from pole to lead brother Ralf into the first corner while third placed Mark Webber dropped back to sixth.

After the first round of pit stops Michael Schumacher's domination continued to grow - after twenty laps his advantage over brother Ralf grew to a full twenty seconds. Takuma Sato was in third, ten seconds behind Ralf and three seconds ahead of Button while David Coulthard was fifth ahead of Fernando Alonso. On his debut for Toyota, Jarno Trulli continued to stand up to immense pressure from Juan Pablo Montoy and Rubens Barrichello in the fight for seventh.

Webber was the first retirement on lap 21, compounding his difficult afternoon after his poor start from third. The Australian pulled into the pits after feeling intense heat through the seat, burning his posterior. As he climbed from the cockpit he made mechanics splash water over his behind.

Michael Schumacher pitted for the second time on lap twenty-six and emerged from the refuelling stop in first.

Rubens Barrichello and David Coulthard retired from the race on lap forty after the Brazilian attempted a move from a long way back resulting in a collision and damage to both their front suspensions.

Michael Schumacher cruised home to clinch his thirteenth win of the 2004 season, his eighty-second career victory. Cruising for the last few laps Michael came home comfortably ahead of brother Ralf while BAR Honda's Jenson Button rounded off the podium positions - the British driver's tenth podium of the season.

Sato rounded off another great Japanese Grand Prix for BAR Honda with fourth place while Fernando Alonso just kept in touch in fifth. Raikkonen claimed three points for sixth ahead of Montoya and Fisichella bringing in the final point for Sauber.

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