NEWS Australian GP - Schumacher wins dramatic season opener
DRIVERS STANDING
Melbourne, 3rd March - For almost half the 22-car field, the 2002 Australian Grand Prix ended a few seconds into the race after a multi-car pile-up in the first corner triggered when Ralf Schumacher ran over the back of the pole-winning Ferrari of Rubens Barrichello as they disputed the lead into the first corner.
In the chaos that followed, both the Sauber-Petronas cars of Nick Heidfeld and Felipe Massa, the Jordan-Honda of Giancarlo Fisichella, Jenson Button's Renault, Olivier Panis' BAR-Honda and the Toyota of Alan McNish.

Eventual winner Michael Schumacher was forced to take to the grass to avoid being hit in the confusion. "I was afraid to turn in with cars crashing inside me. It turned out to be a good decision," explained Michael, who dropped back to fourth place in the melee.

With the safety car out for the next five laps, it was David Coulthard leading the field for McLaren-Mercedes ahead of Jarno Trulli's Renault and the remaining BMW-Williams of Juan Pablo Montoya who then slid wide as the field started racing again letting Schumacher into third spot.
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There was another exciting battle as Schumacher pressured Trulli for second place, the Renault driver only able to hold on for three laps before spinning off into the wall which brought out another pace car and a new change of fortune for Michael Schumacher as Coulthard lost his lead when he ran wide over the grass at the re-start.

"I almost went off as well," admitted Michael, who lost his speed onto the pit straight, which allowed Montoya to pull ahead into the first corner and take the lead at the start of lap 12.
"I was having problems getting enough grip from my tyres and it was a close fight with Montoya, but then the situation reversed and my tyres got better as his got worse,"
said Michael. After five laps of thrilling racing, Montoya went wide into the first corner allowing Schumacher to pull along side and take the advantage into the next turn.

Once ahead, the rest of the race was all Ferrari red as Schumacher pulled away to a comfortable 30 second lead which he held throughout his pit stop 38 laps into the 58-lap race.

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