Brazil's Rubens Barrichello triumphed in one of the most dramatic British Grands Prix of recent years after a demonstrator risked his life by running along the Silverstone track today.
The Ferrari driver won by just over five seconds from the Williams of Juan Pablo Montoya after the leaderboard had been radically upturned by the sudden arrival of the man dressed in a kilt and tam-o'shanter.
McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen finished third but only cut his championship deficit to Michael Schumacher by one point after his Ferrari rival forced his way back to fourth after dropping to 14th after the 12th lap incident.
Barrichello triumphed in Germany three years ago when a protester last got onto the track at Hockenheim.
But the 30-year-old fully deserved the sixth victory of his career - and first in 11 races since the United States Grand Prix when he was handed the win by Schumacher - after producing a series of thrilling overtaking moves in the 60-lap battle.
Barrichello did his title chasing team-mate the favour this time as at one stage Raikkonen threatened to snatch the lead in the championship with just five races left.
The protester suddenly appeared on lap 12 and started running down Hangar Straight - the fastest part of the circuit - with cars accelerating towards him at 150mph.
Several of the clearly-stunned drivers had to swerve to avoid the man - whose white banner said `Read The Bible: The Bible Is Always right' - as he got closer to the racing line before a marshal finally rugby-tackled into the grass.
The protester was then unceremoniously dragged from the circuit before being taken away but he had had a dramatic effect on the leaderboard with the second arrival of the safety car seeing the majority of the drivers dart into the pits.
Ralph Firman came home 13th in his Jordan while Giancarlo Fisichella failed to finish.
Race result
1. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Ferrari
2. Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) Williams
3. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) McLaren
4. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari
5. David Coulthard (Britain) McLaren
6. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Renault
7. Cristiano da Matta (Brazil) Toyota
8. Jenson Button (Britain) BAR
Overall Standings
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 34
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 championship
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