HEIDELBERG, Germany, July 28 (UPI) -- Having already clinched his fifth Formula One championship did not stop Michael Schumacher from winning the German Grand Prix on Sunday in front of his home fans at the reconfigured Hockenheimring.
The German driver secured the 2002 title last week in France, but put on a brilliant performance to dazzle the home fans.
Starting from the pole, Schumacher led for all 67 laps en route to his ninth victory of the year and 62nd career.
Schumacher averaged 129.533 miles per hour in his Ferrari to take the checkered flag 10.503 seconds ahead of Colombian Juan Montoya. A late unscheduled pit stop prevented Ralf Schumacher from giving the German fans a 1-2 Schumacher finish. Ralf Schumacher was 14 seconds back in third place.
"I am without words honestly," said Schumacher, whose only previous win at the German Grand Prix was in 1995 while with Benetton. "Everybody knows it hasn't been the case in the seven years I have driven for Ferrari. We have achieved so much this year, it is amazing."
He stretched his points-scoring finishes to 17 consecutive races and has 106 points after 12 races. Williams BMW drivers Montoya is a distant second with 40 points and Ralf Schumacher has 36.
Michael Schumacher's nine victories in a season matches his own mark that he already owned along with Nigel Mansell.
Rubens Barrichello of Brazil was fourth in the second Ferrari, with David Coulthard of Scotland fifth a lap down in the McLaren Mercedes. Nick Heidfeld of Germany also was a lap down to place sixth and earn the final points-paying position in a Sauber Petronas.
Neither Ralf Schumacher nor Montoya were able to seriously challenge Michael Schumacher. Montoya benefited by a poor pit stop by Barrichello to move up to third and then from the unscheduled service by his teammate Ralf Schumacher to take second.
