INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Rubens Barrichello received payback from Ferrari teammate Michael Schumacher, accepting the gift of a checkered flag Sunday in the United States Grand Prix.
Schumacher, who wrapped up his fifth F1 championship five races ago, pulled over coming out of the 13th and final turn and allowed Barrichello to edge ahead in a side-by-side finish as Indianapolis Motor Speedway president and CEO Tony George waved the checkered flag.
In the May 12 Austrian Grand Prix, Barrichello was ordered by Ferrari management to pull aside just short of an apparent victory and allow Schumacher to win. That initially led to some bitter feelings, but with the world championship wrapped up, Ferrari management returned the favor to Barrichello.
Barrichello finished .01 seconds ahead of Schumacher and wrapped up second place in the standings.
Scotland's David Coulthard was third, followed by Colombia's Juan Montoya and Italy's Jarno Trulli.
Schumacher started on the pole and, until the final lead change, relinquished the lead for just two laps during his two scheduled pit stops.
With the Ferraris far ahead of any other make in the field, there was little drama for the estimated crowd of 130,000 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which basked in 80-degree temperatures and sunny skies.
