SUZUKA, Japan, Oct. 13 -- Michael Schumacher put an exclamation point on another record-breaking year Sunday when he won the Japanese Grand Prix to become the first driver in Formula One history to finish on the podium in every race of the season.
Starting from the pole for the 50th time in his unparalleled career, Schumacher beat Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello of Brazil to the finish line by a half-second.
The five-time F1 champion from Germany ended the season 67 points ahead of Barrichello in the drivers' standings, breaking the record for the most lopsided victory margin in Formula One annals.
McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen of Finland was third, with Colombia's Juan Montoya next for Williams and rookie Takuma Sato pleasing the home crowd and rounding out the top five for the first points finish of his career.
Schumacher had the lead for all one of 53 laps as he drove to his record 11th victory of the season and 64th of his career. He ended the season with an F1-record 144 points.
The fifth straight 1-2 sweep by Schumacher and Barrichello gave Ferrari its 10th consecutive win and 15th in 17 races this year.
Yet another record fell as Schumacher and Barrichello recorded their 15th sweep of the top two positions, breaking the mark set by McLaren's Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in 1988-89.
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