Silverstone, July 21: Rubens Barrichello won the British Grand Prix for Ferrari in a race of thrilling overtaking which was overshadowed by a dangerous track invasion by a kilted protestor who ran at cars on one of the fastest sections of the circuit. The Brazilian, starting from pole, beat Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya's Williams in a thrilling and chaotic race on Sunday (July 20) that tightened up the title battle and plunged the Silverstone circuit owners deeper into trouble. Finland's Kimi Raikkonen was third for McLaren ahead of Ferrari's championship leader Michael Schumacher in fourth. Five times champion Schumacher's overall lead over Raikkonen has been trimmed to seven points from eight with five races remaining. The race was thrown into confusion on lap 12 when the protestor -- seemingly dressed as former world champion Jackie Stewart -- appeared on the track, trotting down the middle of Hangar Straight as cars roared past at about 200 kph. Waving placards, he made a movement towards one speeding car before being bundled to the ground by a marshal as the safety car came out for the second time in the race.


Police arrested the 56-year-old man and charged him with "aggravated trespass". He will be interviewed by police later on Sunday in Northampton, central England.


A similar occurrence came in the 2000 German Grand Prix when a disgruntled former Mercedes employee walked onto the track with slogans painted on his jacket.


Once the safety car was deployed, and the man dragged to safety, there was a mass of hurried pitstops and Toyota's Brazilian rookie Cristiano da Matta found himself leading a grand prix for the first time with French team mate Olivier Panis in third place.


Coulthard finished fifth, ahead of Italian Jarno Trulli for Renault, Da Matta was seventh and Briton Jenson Button took the final point for BAR after starting at the back of the field.


Ralf Schumacher, winner of the last two races for Williams, finished ninth -- the first time this season that he has failed to finish in the points.


A BMW spokesman said a piece from Briton David Coulthard's McLaren had become lodged in Ralf's radiator, sending water temperatures soaring and forcing an extra pitstop.


It was Barrichello's sixth career win and, by a remarkable coincidence, his second in a race disrupted by a track protest. The Brazilian also won at Hockenheim in 2000.


Michael Schumacher has 69 points, Raikkonen 62 and Montoya 55. The younger Schumacher has 53 points and Barrichello 49. Ferrari lead the constructors championship with 118 points to Williams's 108.


Result of Sunday's British Formula One Grand Prix: Race distance: 60 laps, 308.355 km 1. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Ferrari 1 hour 28 minutes 37.554 seconds (average speed 208.757 kph) 2. Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) Williams 1:28:43.016 3. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) McLaren 1:28:48.210 4. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari 1:29:03.202 5. David Coulthard (Britain) McLaren 1:29:14.381 6. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Renault 1:29:20.621 7. Cristiano da Matta (Brazil) Toyota 1:29:22.639 8. Jenson Button (Britain) BAR 1:29:23.032 9. Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Williams 1:29:35.586 10. Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) BAR 1:29:41.123 11. Olivier Panis (France) Toyota 1:29:42.781 12. Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Germany) Sauber 1:29:43.118 13. Ralph Firman (Britain) Jordan one lap behind 14. Mark Webber (Australia) Jaguar one 15. Jos Verstappen (Netherlands) Minardi two 16. Justin Wilson (Britain) Minardi two 17. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) Sauber two


Not classified (did not finish): Fernando Alonso (Spain) Renault 52 laps completed Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Jordan 44 Antonio Pizzonia (Brazil) Jaguar 32 Fastest lap: Barrichello 1:22.236 on lap 38


Formula One world championship standings after Sunday's British Grand Prix: Drivers 1. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari 69 points 2. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) McLaren 62 3. Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) Williams 55 4. Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Williams 53 5. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Ferrari 49 6. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Renault 39 7. David Coulthard (Britain) McLaren 33 8. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Renault 16 9. Mark Webber (Australia) Jaguar 12 10. Jenson Button (Britain) BAR 11 11. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Jordan 10 12. Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Germany) Sauber 7 13. Cristiano da Matta (Brazil) Toyota 5 14. Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) BAR 3 15. Olivier Panis (France) Toyota 2 16. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) Sauber 2 17. Ralph Firman (Britain) Jordan 1


Constructors 1. Ferrari 118 points 2. Williams 108 3. McLaren 95 4. Renault 55 5. BAR 14 6. Jaguar 12 7. Jordan 11 8. Sauber 9 9. Toyota 7 10. Minardi 0


Bureau Report