Renault's Fernando Alonso was crowned the youngest-ever Formula One world champion despite a third-place finish at the Brazilian Grand Prix eventually claimed by Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya.
The 24-year-old Spaniard required just a podium finish at Sao Paulo to end the five-year reign of Michael Schumacher as Formula One champion. Alonso's F1 triumph completely overshadowed defending champion Montoya's victory - the seventh of his career and third this season.
With Montoya's teammate Kimi Raikkonen finishing second, McLaren now have a two-point constructors' lead over Renault with two races to go.
India's Narain Karthikeyan placed 15th ahead of Jordan teammate Tiago Monteiro, who retired from the race after a mechanical failure put an end to his consecutive race finishes this season.
Karthikeyan said he was really pleased to have finished the race and was already looking forward to his next F1 challenge in Suzuka (Japan) on October nine.
"At least I established the limits of my EJ15B. Overall the car was good. I did my fastest lap in 1.14.906 on my 41st lap," he said.
"I hope I will have another good race in Japan. All drivers love the track there. I have competed in the Japanese 3000 Championship and like the place," he added.
Karthikeyan gained some positions during the hectic start of the Brazil race which saw David Coulthard (Red Bull) and Antonio Pizzonia (BMW Williams) collide and retire.
The win at Sao Paulo gave Montoya his second successive victory as well as his seventh career title. This was Mclaren's 5th successive victory this season.
Alonso made a clean start from the pole to lead Montoya into the first corner just when Antonio Pizzonia collided with David Coulthard's Red Bull behind them. Both Pizzonia and Coulthard retired.
Alonso made his first stop some nine laps earlier than Raikkonen, who by that time had jumped past the Renault driver into second place.
Montoya stayed ahead of Raikkonen through the second set of stops and the McLaren pair reached home as Alonso pumped his fist in his championship glory.
Schumacher, who relinquished his crown when he dropped out of the title race in Italy earlier this month, took the fourth place for Ferrari.
Italian Giancarlo Fisichella finished fifth for Renault with Brazil's Barrichello came sixth in front of home crowds in his last home race for Ferrari.
Briton Jenson Button came seventh despite improvements to his BAR-Honda car which failed to push him higher up the field. Toyota's Ralf Schumacher finished eighth.
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PTI
