Race report Fernando Alonso and
Michael Schumacher kept their positions at the start, while
Jarno Trulli took advantage of a slow-starting
David Coulthard and managed to pass
Jenson Button to take third position. Schumacher kept with Alonso as they traded
fastest laps, until the
German pitted on the end of lap 11. The leading
Renault managed to continue three more laps and, after his stop, had grown his lead to three seconds. Schumacher stopped for a second time on lap 28 and then set a series of fastest laps, which led to Alonso falling behind him after his stop four laps later. Another stop by the
Ferrari on lap 42 was a sign of low fuel levels, which explained his superior pace. After Alonso made his third and final stop on lap 45, he rejoined in second place but never managed to match Schumacher's lap times. The gap had opened up to over 20 seconds by lap 57, when the World Champion pitted for a fourth time and returned to the track, still seven seconds ahead of his nearest rival. Schumacher scored his ninth win of the season. Behind the leading duo,
David Coulthard had started third but trouble with the fuel hose on his second stop, dropped him down to eighth, which became sixth at the finish.
Jenson Button had started fourth but nearly stalled his
engine at the third stop. This left
Rubens Barrichello and
Jarno Trulli fighting over third place, with the
Brazilian getting the upper hand with an audacious overtaking manoeuvre just two corners from the finish line.
Race classification == Championship standings after the race ==