Rubens Barrichello of Ferrari won the title of the inaugural Chinese Formula One Grand Prix in Shanghai on Sunday. The second place went to Jenson Button of BAR, followed in the third place by Kimi Raikkonen of McLaren.

The Brazilian, starting from the pole, took the chequered flag for a second time in succession this season after the Monza race, 1.0 seconds ahead of Button.

It was Barrichello's ninth career win, and Ferrari's 14th in 16races this year.

Kimi Raikkonen, driving a McLaren-Mercedes, ended third after running second for the initial stage of the 56 laps.  The last few laps saw a breathtaking battle between him and Button, with Button leading a mere 0.4 seconds in the end.

Fernando Alonso of Renault was a distant fourth, 32.5 seconds behind Button and followed by Williams' Juan Pablo Montoya. 

Another BAR driver Takuma Sato was sixth, starting from the back of the grid after an engine change.

The 11 points collected by the Honda-powered team will be a major boost on their way to the second place in constructors' standings.

World champion Michael Schumacher, who started from the pitlane after changed the engine, failed to repeat his extraordinary performance in Monza.

Schumacher spun at the 13th turn in his 14th lap and with 21 laps remaining, he was forced into the pits on a flat left rear tyre. He ended 12th and it's the second race this season that he
returned empty-handed.

The German, who won an unprecedented seventh title last month in Belgium, also spun off in Saturday's qualifying.

Sunday's race was the last to be added to F1's crowded calendar, with the Formula One race now moving to Japan before the finale in Brazil.

(Xinhua News Agency September 26, 2004)