MELBOURNE, March 3 (UPI) -- Four-time World Champion Michael Schumacher opened the 2002 Formula One season Sunday with his 54th career victory, winning the Australian Grand Prix, a race that featured a field-decimating collision in the first corner.
Schumacher brought his 2001 model Ferrari across the finish line at the Albert Park circuit in one hour, 35 minutes, 36.792 seconds, averaging 119.666 miles per hour over 58 laps. He finished almost 19 seconds ahead of the Williams-BMW of Juan Montoya of Colombia to extend his all-time record for career wins.
"The start of the race could have been a lot better, but for me this was the ideal start to the season, although a 1-2 finish would have been preferable for the team," said Schumacher, who won his second straight world title last year.
Finland's Kimi Raikkonen, making his debut for McLaren-Mercedes, came in third to step on the podium for the first time in his career. Raikkonen has taken the drive of countryman Mika Hakkinen, a two-time Formula One champion who is taking a sabbatical.
A 33-year-old German, Schumacher started second behind teammate Rubens Barrichello of Brazil, who was taken out on the first corner along with seven other drivers in an a spectacular pileup.
Ralf Schumacher, Michael's younger brother who drives for Williams, began the mayhem when he rammed the back end, then flew over Barrichello's Ferrari, putting them both out of the race. The Williams driver, who started third, had cut inside his brother's car and was attempting to challenge for the lead, but Barrichello moved across to block the pass and the cars collided.
The 25-year-old Schumacher flew over the grass and was joined on the side of the track by Barrichello. Seconds later, six cars converged and race officials sent out the safety car.
It was a disappointing finish for Toyota's Allan McNish, the 32-year-old Scotsman who waited 12 years for a F1 ride, and Jenson Button of Britain, who was making his debut for Renault (formerly Benetton).
Italy's Giancarlo Fisichella in a Jordan, the two Sauber drivers -- Nick Heidfeld of Germany and Brazilian Felipe Massa -- and France's Olivier Panis in a BAR also had their races halted on the opening lap.
Scotland's David Coulthard led briefly in a McLaren, which ended on the grass on lap 12 as the safety car was coming back to the pits after a crash by Renault's Jarno Trulli. Coulthard later developed a mechanical problem, going from fourth to seventh, and stopped on the track with 25 laps left.
Northern Ireland's Eddie Irvine started 19th but finished fourth in a Jaguar while Australian Mark Webber came in fifth in his first F1 race.
