Schumi Moves to Top of Championship Standings

Author: 
Agence Franc Presse
Publication Date: 
Mon, 2003-06-16 03:00

MONTREAL, 16 June 2003 — Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher moved to the top of the world championship standings for the first time this season after scoring his sixth win in the Canadian Grand Prix and the 68th of his career.

The German went ahead of brother Ralf, of Williams, after the first pit-stops and held off the challenge of the younger Schumacher to take the checkered flag and move three points clear in the title race.

Ralf Schumacher picked up the second place from teammate Juan Pablo Montoya, whose hopes of victory were dashed by a spin on lap two, with Spaniard Fernando Alonso fourth for Renault.

Ferrari’s Rubens Barrichello came home fifth with McLaren driver Kimi Raikkonen, who lost the title lead to Schumacher, sixth after starting from the pit-lane.

Mark Webber scored another two points for Jaguar with seventh place and Toyota’s Olivier Panis collected his first points of the season in eighth. Minardi driver Jos Verstappen and Jaguar’s Antonio Pizzonia were the only others to finish the race as half of the field was forced into retirement.

These included home favorite Jacques Villeneuve with the BAR-Honda driver’s miserable luck in the Canadian race continuing on the 25th anniversary of his father’s victory in the event as he suffered brake problems.

Raikkonen started from the pit-lane following his failure to set a time in qualifying and his McLaren team immediately filled his car with fuel. Ralph Firman, due to begin on the back row of the grid, also started from the pit-lane as his Jordan team made changes to his car.

Montoya went wide at the opening corner to retain his second place with Michael Schumacher putting him under pressure. Pizzonia lost his front wing on the opening lap and was forced to pit, and Barrichello stopped the following lap with his front wing also loose. Montoya spun at the final corner when running second and the Williams driver dropped to fifth before gaining a place by overtaking Webber.

Sauber’s Heinz-Harald Frentzen stopped at the side of the track on the 10th lap, while Trulli pitted after his tire shredded and the Italian then spun at the hairpin.

Montoya gained another place passing Alonso and David Coulthard weaved his way through the field up to sixth after overtaking Cristiano Da Matta.

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