Wednesday October 2nd, 2002

World Champion Michael Schumacher has insisted that the controversial finish to the United States Grand Prix proved the team spirit and unity that Ferrari have.

German Schumacher led the entire race at Indianapolis before slowing on the final lap in an attempt to stage a dead-heat finish with teammate Rubens Barrichello.

Barrichello won the race by one-hundredth of a second in a bizarre end to the event, but Schumacher, who had taken first place in Austria from the Brazilian, claimed it underlined the team spirit within Ferrari.

"I have already explained everything at Indianapolis," Schumacher said. "I simply wanted to cross the line at the same time as Rubens. We have had a fantastic season together and we are such friends that it would have been the perfect symbol of our mutual respect. It was just like in the old days when one crossed the line together holding hands.

"Obviously that's not possible in a Formula One car but sure it's possible to drive side by side. In the end, Rubens crossed the line fractionally ahead of me, I thought it was a really good thing.

"Rubens has helped me several times during this season and that's why I think this was the perfect end. I certainly did not want to offend anyone. On the contrary, I felt that crossing the line together only proved our unity and team spirit."

The result was Ferrari's eighth one-two finish of the season and their fourth successive. The Italian team have also won 14 of the 16 races this year.

Published at 09:44:22 GMT