Schumacher Wins With His ‘Perfect’ New Ferrari

Michael Schumacher won the Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix Sunday at Sao Paulo in his new Ferrari, edging younger brother Ralf by less than a second.

Schumacher, the four-time world champion, was in front from the start in the debut of his F2002 car and lost the lead only twice.

“The car was perfect,” he said. “We had no problems, but it was a very tight race with Ralf.”

Michael Schumacher completed 71 laps on the 2.677-mile Interlagos circuit in 1 hour 31 minutes 43.663 seconds.

Already on his victory lap, Schumacher might have been forgiven for not realizing he had won. Pele was supposed to wave the checkered flag, but the Brazilian soccer great apparently missed both Schumachers crossing the finish.

He finally waved the flag as David Coulthard went past the line.

“I was confident I could win, and winning in the new car makes us optimistic for other races,” Schumacher said. “I’m a lot more optimistic for circuits where last year we traditionally struggled.”

Schumacher had a first-bend tussle with Juan Montoya, sending his Williams-BMW into pit lane minus a front wing.

Montoya started from the pole position and blocked Schumacher heading into the corner, forcing the German to hit the brakes.

“Juan Pablo behaved really well,” Schumacher said. “He left enough space for both of us and I thought I could outbrake him in the first corner, but I couldn’t.”

The only times Schumacher did not hold the lead were when he was overtaken by teammate Rubens Barrichello and when he stopped in the pits, putting his brother in front. Ferrari took back the lead after the pit stop by Ralf, who was driving a Williams-BMW.

Coulthard, in a McLaren-Mercedes, finished third. Jenson Button, in a Renault, was fourth and Montoya came back from 20th place for fifth. Mika Salo, driving a Toyota, finished sixth.

Schumacher extended his lead in the driver standings to 24 points, eight ahead of his brother. Montoya is third with 14.

Cycling

Lance Armstrong finished in second place in the Criterium International at Charleville-Mezieres, France, trailing winner Alberto Martinez of Spain by one second.

Armstrong, the three-time Tour de France champion, was third fastest in the 5.3-mile time trial, moving from ninth to second overall.

“I was missing something, but I’m happy,” Armstrong said. “This time last year my form wasn’t like this. The legs aren’t bad.”

The Criterium, a minor stage race, was the Texan’s first event in France this season. It is the only French race in which Armstrong is expected to compete before the July 6-28 Tour de France.

College Baseball

Eastern Connecticut’s Bill Holowaty became the 34th baseball coach in NCAA history to reach 1,000 victories as the Warriors swept a doubleheader from Massachusetts Boston, 14-3 and 5-3.

The wins gave Holowaty a 1,000-378 record in 34 seasons at the school. He’s the fourth Division III coach to reach the milestone.