Five-time world champion Michael Schumacher escaped a dramatic pit lane fire to claim a remarkable victory in the Austrian Grand Prix at the A1 Ring this afternoon.
McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen was second with Schumacher's Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello in third but the German ace's win, his third in a row this season, came in the most dramatic circumstances.
As he pitted for the first time on lap 22, the fuel caught fire sending flames springing into the air and Ferrari mechanics scurrying for the fire extinguishers.
Schumacher, who had started from pole and was race leader at the time, sat coolly in his seat as the flames were put out and rejoined the race in third place handing the lead to Juan Pablo Montoya in a Williams.
But disaster struck for Montoya on lap 31 as the engine blew on his Williams which allowed Schumacher to incredibly retake the lead after outbraking Raikkonen into a corner.
Schumacher then set a new lap record as he pushed ahead knowing that the fire at his first stop had meant he had been under-fuelled.
The signs of danger for Ferrari had already been there when Rubens Barrichello endured a 20-second pit stop after his fuel rig jammed.
Schumacher pitted for a second time on the 41st lap but Raikkonen, who came in eight laps later, was unable to make any impression on Schumacher as the German star roared to one of his most spectacular victories.
The Finn's car suffered heavy understeer which meant he was unable to mount a serious late challenge on the Ferrari as Schumacher built up a steady 10 second lead as Raikkonen was forced to concentrate on resisting the pressure from Barrichello.
The race had already got off to a chaotic start when Brazilian driver Cristiano Da Matta in a Toyota, who had been 13th on the grid, twice stalled on the grid causing the start of the sixth round of the world championship to be delayed.
The Renault of Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber's Jaguar started from the pit lane while German driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen failed to even take his place in the starting line-up in his Sauber.
However, the safety car was soon out in order to allow Jos Verstappen's stricken Minardi to be moved off the track.
Behind Schumacher, who had started on pole, was Montoya, who had jumped to second spot from third on the grid with Raikkonen, relegated to third spot.
Alonso eventually made his way up to fifth spot before he pitted for the first time while Barrichello battled his way back to third spot after his disastrous stop.
However, Alonso's impressive afternoon ended when he spun off on lap 43 as Jenson Button, in a BAR, was holding onto fourth spot with David Coulthard, who endured another frustrating afternoon in his McLaren, getting past Williams' Ralf Schumacher who lap 57.