Barrichello

INDIANAPOLIS -- After dominating the Austrian Grand Prix on May 12 only to be ordered to pull over some 100 yards from the finish line so Ferrari teammate Michael Schumacher could win, Rubens Barrichello had to feel shortchanged.

But even after he got payback from Schumacher, who slowed just enough Sunday to allow Barrichello to beat him by 0.011 seconds in Sunday's United States Grand Prix, the Brazilian still had to feel overlooked.

Instead of being the center of attention as the winner in the closest finish in Formula One history, Barrichello again was overshadowed by his more famous teammate, the five-time F1 world champion.

Regardless of the nature of the outcome, Barrichello was more than happy to accept the fifth win of his Formula One career and fourth this season.

"We did everything now -- we're first, we're second, we won the constructors championship," Barrichello said of Ferrari's impressive dominance of the F1 series this year. "I guess the crowd was happy for me. It was very important, the USA is such an important part of my life. To win it was very, very, very good.

"I got to the last corner, I didn't know what to do and nothing had been said. Michael was just very kind to, you know, let us finish equally. I guess I pointed a little bit in front, but what can we say? I think it's zero-zero now."

It's been said that paybacks are tough. In this case, however, the payback was Schumacher's long-overdue chance to reward his teammate after Ferrari management seemingly wrested it from Barrichello in Austria.

Barrichello had an interesting weekend in Indianapolis, to say the least. He was late to a mandated FIA news conference on Thursday because he was having breakfast at the home of Tony Kanaan, a Brazilian driver in CART who is a long-time friend of the 30-year-old Barrichello.

On Friday, Barrichello crashed his primary car in the outside wall of the 13th turn and wasn't able to turn a lap the rest of the day.

The following day, Barrichello qualified second for Sunday's race and was the only car capable of keeping Schumacher's Ferrari from speeding away from the field.

And just when it looked like Barrichello was going to finish second, Schumacher slowed on the final lap, allowing his teammate to pull side-by-side coming out of the final turn. Barrichello took the chance and edged Schumacher at the finish line.

"I feel quite good, actually," Barrichello said. "I feel that I had a fantastic race. We were battling and I was pushing really hard after the first pit stop. I was on new tires and I gave a really hard time to Michael. We were going for it.

"I pushed every button I could trying to pass him, but it wasn't possible. But we had a good race together. After the second pit stop, the team said just to save a little bit because, you know, we saw so many blowups and everything. At the end, I wasn't expecting, we were close together, but, like Michael said, I think if you purely think that I won Austria and he won Indy, that's it. There's nothing to complain."

When Schumacher captured the inaugural U.S. Grand Prix in 2000 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Mika Hakkinen won here last year, both said it was a very special win. Barrichello voiced similar feelings Sunday.

"It is very special," he said. "Being a South American, it's quite important to winning this race. Michael won the race when he conquered the championship, then I won in Austria when we did the constructors title. Today, I won the race that put me into second in the championship. So I'm very happy.

"I don't know if you think that we were faking something, but I was flat-out, and I guess Michael was, too. So I enjoyed thoroughly the race the whole time. The only time I saw Michael backing off was two laps to go. I'll be thrilled to have my name on the winners here."

Coming to Indianapolis was almost like old home week for Barrichello. He was able to spend time with long-time friends Felipe Giaffone, Gil de Ferran and Helio Castroneves of the Indy Racing League and Kanaan, who will jump to the IRL next season.

Barrichello also was cheered by the large contingent of Brazilians that comprised much of the crowd of 130,000.

"I enjoy very much coming here," he said. "I think the public enjoyed very much. I saw people happy, I saw the big flags in there. Some of my friends are in here, Felipe is here, and Gil is here and Helio is here. So it's very important. Helio won twice here in the Indianapolis 500.

"I guess the 500 is still much more important for Indianapolis than it is Formula One. But I think Formula One made a good impact into Indianapolis, and we have a good show. When we are on the parade lap, people are quite enjoying and the flags. So, as I said, I'm really happy to have won it here."