Big Surprise Guess Who Wins Japanese GP - Complete Results

SUZUKA, Japan October 13, 2002; Salvatore writing for the AP reported that Michael Schumacher won his third consecutive Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, capping the Formula One year with his 11th victory of the season.

The five-time world champion led a 1-2 finish for Ferrari, with Rubens Barrichello the runner-up. Schumacher was assured the title three months ago with six races remaining. His previous best season was nine wins, which he did three times.

This season, he finished among the top three in every race. Apart from his 11 wins, he was second five times and third once.

"What has been outstanding is that we finished every race - not only finished but we finished every race on the podium," Schumacher said. "The quality of the job of the mechanics - it's unbelievable what they have achieved."

The German started from pole position and covered 53 laps of the 3.6-mile Suzuka circuit in 1 hour, 26 minutes, 59.698 seconds.

Barrichello, who led for a lap when Schumacher made a pit stop, was a half second behind. This was Ferrari's ninth 1-2 finish of the season, giving the team a 1-2 finish in the driver standings.

McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen was third and Juan Pablo Montoya was fourth in a Williams, clinching third place in the standings. Japan's Takuma Sato was fifth, a lap ahead of sixth-place Jenson Button in a Renault.

Starting on the pole for the 50th time, Schumacher easily led Barrichello into the first turn and had a 2.3-second lead at the end of the first lap. He gradually moved away from Barrichello, and the Ferraris pulled away from the field.

"To get a good start, you get to go out and can plan your race," Schumacher said. "Plan the pit stops and everything."

Brother Ralf Schumacher's Williams-BMW went out in the 48th lap after holding third place most of the race.

BAR-Honda had a bad race, with Jacques Villeneuve and Olivier Panis failing to finish. Former world champion Villeneuve's engine blew in the 29th lap.

David Coulthard's McLaren went out in the seventh lap. He ended up fifth for the season, his worst finish since he was seventh in 1996.

Toyota driver Allan McNish was ruled out of the race by a Formula One medical official because of his crash during qualifying Saturday. McNish walked away from the crash and participated in the morning warmup Sunday. But after he was re-examined he was not allowed to race.

"He's perfectly OK now, but if he would be involved in something again it could have some bad effects," Toyota team chief Ove Andersson said.

Complete Results from Japanese Grand Prix at the 4.636-mile Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Japan:

1. Michael Schumacher, Germany, Ferrari, 53 laps, 1 hour 26 minutes, 59.698 seconds, 212.644 kph (132.159 mph)

2. Rubens Barrichello, Brazil, Ferrari, 53, 0.506 second behind

3. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, McLaren-Mercedes, 53, 23.292

4. Juan Pablo Montoya, Colombia, Williams-BMW, 53 36.275.

5. Takuma Sato, Japan, Jordan-Honda, 53, 82.694

6. Jenson Button, Britain, Renault, 52

7. Nick Heidfeld, Germany, Sauber-Petronas, 52.

8. Mika Salo, Finland, Toyota, 52.

9. Eddie Irvine, Britain, Jaguar, 52.

10. Mark Webber, Australia, Minardi-Asiatech, 51.

11. Ralf Schumacher, Germany, Williams-BMW, 48.

12. Pedro de la Rosa, Spain, Jaguar, 39.

13. Giancarlo Fisichella, Italy, Jordan-Honda, 37.

14. Jarno Trulli, Italy, Renault, 32.

15. Jacques Villeneuve, Canada, BAR-Honda, 27.

16. Alex Yoong, Malaysia, Minardi-Asiatech, 14.

17. Olivier Panis, France, BAR-Honda, 8

18. David Coulthard, Britain, McLaren-Mercedes, 7

19. Filip Massa, Brazil, Sauber-Petronas, 3

Did Not Start: Allan McNish, Britain, Toyota.

Driver standings

(After 17 of 17 races)

1. Michael Schumacher, 144 points.

2. Barrichello, 77.

3. Montoya, 50.

4. Ralf Schumacher, 42.

5. Coulthard, 41.

6. Raikkonen, 24.

7. Button, 14.

8. Trulli, 9.

9. Irvine, 8.

10. Heidfeld, 7.

10. Fisichella, 7.

12. Massa, 4.

12. Villeneuve, 4

14. Panis, 3.

15. Webber, 2.

15. Salo, 2.

15. Sato, 2.

15. Frentzen, 2.

Constructor standings

1. Ferrari, 221 points.

2. Williams, 92.

3. McLaren, 65.

4. Renault, 23.

5. Sauber, 11.

6. Jordan, 9.

7. Jaguar, 8.

8. BAR, 7.

9. Minardi, 2.

9. Toyota, 2.

9. Arrows, 2

Data Published by The Associated Press