MELBOURNE, Australia -- Michael Schumacher wasn't satisfied with testing of the 2002 model Ferrari, so he drove his old car in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. And just like last season, he won.

Schumacher avoided the pileups on the opening lap that wiped out half of the 22 cars in the Formula One season-opener and then piloted his Ferrari to the checkered flag, the 54th of his career and his third consecutive Australian title.

	Michael Schumacher cruised to the checkered flag in the season-opener in Melbourne.

The four-time world champion said he was surprised that last season's Ferrari had continued to dominate the late model packages of Williams and McLaren.

"We were very quick all weekend, surprisingly quick," Schumacher said.

The 2001 Ferraris finished in front in all practice and qualifying at Melbourne's Albert Park lakeside circuit, with Schumacher ahead in four free practice sessions and his teammate Rubens Barrichello winning the pole position.

Barrichello's race lasted a few seconds before Williams-BMW's Ralf Schumacher, Michael's brother, slammed into the back of Barrichello's Ferrari, sparking a series of accidents amid the chasing pack.

Michael Schumacher tallied a record 123 points to win the 2001 world drivers' championship, winning nine Grand Prix races and taking pole 11 times, securing a podium finish in 14 of the 15 races he completed.

His nearest rival was McLaren's David Coulthard with 65 points.

Ferrari won the constructors' title with 179 points, 77 points clear of McLaren and 99 points ahead of third-place Williams.

The pedigree of those Prancing Horses is undisputed, but is it possible for the new Ferraris to go any faster?

Schumacher picked up a maximum 10 points in Melbourne and sees no reason why he can't do it again in Malaysia and Brazil, and is hoping to do it in a new car.

Ferrari is testing this week with the aim of getting the 2002 model -- with its revolutionary but problem-plagued gearbox -- on the circuit in Sepang, Malaysia.

"Obviously we'd like to take the new car ... as soon as we find out it is better and as soon as we find out it is reliable," Schumacher said. "Both of the situations we cannot judge yet when that's going to be the case."

But he's aware that the heat in Sepang presents different problems to the overcast conditions in Melbourne.

"Things can change very quickly, and I wouldn't see what we have seen today as a real measurement for what happens in the future," Schumacher said after Sunday's win.

Juan Pablo Montoya was almost 19 seconds behind in second place, and new McLaren No. 2 Kimi Raikkonen was third -- his first podium position.

Both agreed the Ferraris were too good Down Under, but their teams were still fine-tuning new cars and were certain to improve as the season progresses.

"Ferrari definitely had the edge on us here," Montoya said. But, "hopefully in Malaysia it is going to be hotter, it could play into our hands a little bit.

"When the car was good, we were as fast as Michael, but when we go through the same thing as last year, there is no chance, and I think in hotter temperatures the tires will behave a lot better."

Ferrari team chief Jean Todt said it was Schumacher's brilliance that allowed him to drive wide of the crash zone and then power back from fourth place to first after starting on the front row of the grid.

"First race of the season and first win for Ferrari, having come to Australia with the modified F2001 -- things went well for us," he said.

"It was important to start the season like this. I must say we did not expect to be this far ahead with the F2001."

Williams chief engineer Sam Michael said F1 competitors were chasing Ferraris now, but the situation will change eventually.

"The strength of Michael and Ferrari was very evident. That is something we and our partners have to work on," he said.