Michael Schumacher revelled in his 'beautiful day' after breaking Fernando Alonso's stranglehold on the season with victory in the United States Grand Prix.
Schumacher led home team-mate Felipe Massa for a Ferrari one-two which broke a run of four consecutive wins for Alonso, whose championship lead has been trimmed to 19 points.
Massa led the race early but Schumacher's relentless pace saw him through on lap 30 into a lead which never looked threatened.
He won for the third time this season and clawed back six points on Renault's world champion Alonso, who put in a performance to forget on his way to fifth.
After being jeered on the podium last year following his win in a six-car parade, Schumacher enjoyed a warmer reception 12 months on and celebrated a crucial victory.
He said: 'It is beautiful and we have to be thankful to our fans coming here after last year, still believing in us and supporting us the way they have this weekend. I am really happy to achieve this.
'To have Felipe alongside is just a dream result and good for the championship.'
Ferrari held a clear edge over world championship rivals Renault, whose best performer was Giancarlo Fisichella in third place.
Renault's constructors' championship lead is down to 25 points and could have been less had Fisichella not kept Toyota's Jarno Trulli at bay in fourth.
As well as breaking Renault's dominant run, Schumacher's win etches his name into Indianapolis folklore as the only driver to win at the Brickyard five times.
For a driver famously apathetic towards statistics, he enjoyed his moment of history, saying: 'Special, fantastic - it is something extraordinary.
'The US has existed since 2000 for us in my racing period in Formula One and this place is very historic. Coming here the first time and winning made it very special.
'It's just great and one day sitting at home I will remember it.'
