SAO PAULO, Brazil — Michael Schumacher won the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday in his new Ferrari, edging younger brother Ralf by less than a second.
Schumacher, the four-time world champion, was in front from the start in the debut of his F2002 car and conceded the lead just twice.
"The car was perfect," he said. "We had no problems, but it was a very tight race with Ralf."
Michael Schumacher completed 71 laps on the 2.677-mile Interlagos circuit in 1 hour, 31 minutes, 43.663 seconds.
Already on his victory lap, Schumacher might have been forgiven for not realizing he had won. Pele was supposed to wave the checkered flag, but the Brazilian soccer great apparently missed both Schumachers crossing the finish.
He finally waved the flag as Scotland's David Coulthard went past the line.
"I was confident I could win, and winning in the new car makes us optimistic for other races," Schumacher said. "I'm a lot more optimistic for circuits where last year we traditionally struggled."
Schumacher had a first-bend tussle with Juan Montoya, sending the Colombian's Williams-BMW limping into pit lane minus a front wing.
Montoya started from the pole position and blocked Schumacher heading into the corner, forcing the German to hit the brakes.
"Juan Pablo behaved really well," Schumacher said. "He left enough space for both of us and I thought I could outbrake him in the first corner, but I couldn't."
The only times Schumacher did not hold the lead was when he was overtaken by teammate Rubens Barrichello and when he stopped in the pits, putting his brother in front.
Coulthard, in a McLaren-Mercedes, finished third. Britain's Jenson Button, in a Renault, was fourth and Montoya scrambled from 20th place for fifth.