• Italian GP

Barrichello storms to victory at Monza

Hamilton crashed out on the final lap © Sutton Images

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• Race:
• Italian Grand Prix

• Championship:
• FIA Formula One World Championship

• Drivers:
• Rubens Barrichello
• |
• Jenson Button
• |
• Kimi Räikkönen

• Teams:
• Brawn
• |
• Ferrari

• Circuits:
• Autodromo Nazionale Monza

Rubens Barrichello took his second victory of the season ahead of Brawn team-mate Jenson Button, as the pair made the best of a one-stop strategy to hold off Lewis Hamiton. Hamiton was on a two-stop strategy but his threat to Button's second place came to an abrupt end when he crashed out on the final lap.

It was a flawless drive from Barrichello and one that puts him right back in contention for the championship. Meanwhile, championship rivals Red Bull were way out of contention, with Sebastian Vettel finishing eighth and Mark Webber crashing out on the first lap after a tangle with Robert Kubica. The result all-but eliminates Webber from the title hunt.

At the start of the race Hamilton established an early lead, using his KERS to full advantage. He dropped to second after his first stop, sandwiched between the two heavier-fuelled Brawns. At his second stop he fell behind Button but charged back and looked as though he might challenge the Brawn in the final laps. However, he pushed too hard and on the final lap span off into the inside barrier at extremely high speed in Lesmo 1. Kimi Raikkonen was promoted to third as a result.

Force India continued its run of success, with Adrian Sutil finishing fourth from his front-row grid slot. Fernando Alonso scored one of his better results this season in fifth, ahead of Heikki Kovalainen in sixth and Nick Heidfeld seventh. Newly signed Ferrari driver Ginacarlo Fisichella didn't do so well, way off the pace and out of the points in ninth.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.