Schumacher

MAGNY-COURS, France -- Ferrari's Michael Schumacher has claimed his fifth Formula One world championship with a record-breaking French Grand Prix victory.

The victory was the German's eighth in 11 races, giving him an unbeatable lead of 62 points with a maximum of 60 remaining to be won.

In equaling the late Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio's record of five championships, and three in a row, Schumacher became the first driver to win the title as early as July and with six rounds in hand.

"I have never been good at finding the right words at these moments," said the 33-year-old, who was close to tears afterwards. "It has overcome me."

"All weekend I didn't believe I would win it here, so I didn't feel any pressure."

Schumacher also set a record of 16 successive points finishes, beating Argentine Carlos Reutemann's 15.

In an error-strewn race, luck played into the German's hands just as it seemed the title chase was destined to be extended by another week.

	Michael Schumacher, right, celebrates with Ferrari team manager Jean Todt.

Finland's Kimi Raikkonen was heading for his first Formula One win when, with five laps to go, his McLaren skidded wide and conceded the lead to Schumacher.

"Suddenly when I was leading and feeling it was for the championship and it was probably the worst five laps of my career," said Schumacher. "The weight was suddenly on my shoulders not to make any mistakes."

The German knew he would be champion if he won and neither Brazilian teammate Rubens Barrichello nor Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya finished second. He did that, beating Raikkonen by 1.1 seconds.

The battle was half won before the start when, in a spectacular shambles for the Ferrari team, Barrichello's car was left jacked in the air for the formation lap.

A mechanic hurriedly removed the rear jack but left the front one in place.

Barrichello was pushed back to the pits before stepping out of the car, punching the air in anger as Ferrari's hopes of a third successive one-two evaporated.

That left Montoya, who started on pole for the fifth race in a row, as the main challenger but he finished fourth behind Raikkonen's teammate David Coulthard.

Barrichello's nightmare was out of his control but others suffered from self-inflicted mistakes.

Schumacher, his brother Ralf Schumacher and Coulthard were all dealt drive-through penalties for illegally crossing the white line dividing the pit lane exit from the track.

Ralf was fifth for Williams, ahead of Briton Jenson Button in sixth place for Renault, a day after the French team announced his departure at the end of the year.

Only 10 of a depleted field of 19 cars finished.

Montoya held off the world champion until his first pitstop at the end of lap 23, returning in fourth place.

After the McLarens of Raikkonen and Coulthard each led for a lap, Schumacher came in and resumed in the lead.

But his delight was short-lived as television replays showed that he had crossed the white line on exiting the pit lane.

Ferrari were advised that their number one was under investigation, a decision that had the Williams' mechanics punching the air in jubilation, and he was then given a drive-through penalty.

Schumacher came in at the end of lap 35 and rejoined in third place, behind Montoya and Raikkonen.

The German was second behind the young Finn after his second pitstop and for 20 laps it seemed as if Raikkonen was going to hold him off.

Fate, as it so often has with Schumacher, decided otherwise and the German celebrated by waving to the crowd, arms aloft, before hugging his French team boss Jean Todt, who was as emotional as his driver.

Jordan, who started with just one car after Italian Giancarlo Fisichella was ruled out on medical advice after a big crash on Saturday, were left with none when Japan's Takuma Sato skidded off on lap 25.

The financially troubled Arrows team did not take part after failing to qualify.