Brazil's Rubens Barrichello triumphed in one of the most dramatic British Grand Prix of recent years after a demonstrator risked his life by running along the Silverstone track today. The Ferrari driver won by just over five seconds from the Williams of Juan Pablo Montoya. McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen finished third but only cut his championship deficit to Michael Schumacher by one point after his Ferrari rival forced his way back to fourth after dropping to 14th after the 12th lap incident.
The presence of the demonstrator seemed to act as an omen for a Barrichello victory. The 30-year old triumphed in Germany three years ago when a protester last got onto the track at Hockenheim. The protester suddenly appeared on lap 12 and started running down Hangar Straight - the fastest part of the circuit - with cars accelerating towards him at 150mph. Several drivers had to swerve to avoid hitting the man who ran down the track with a white banner proclaiming` Read the bible: the bible is always right'. He was finally rugby-tackled into the grass by a marshal before being led away by the police.
After the race a defiant Barrichello said: "I love to be in a team that works like they worked last week to make this car better. In the last two weeks people have been saying so many things about me - hopefully they shut up now."
Filed by Stephen Cummins
