The German's pace was relentless, and Raikkonen had little to offer as the red car loomed larger in his mirrors. The figures of Ferrari present and future ran nose-to-tail for a couple of laps, Schumacher even trying an audacious outside pass at Mergulho, before the older man pulled off one last trademark move, diving late into turn one and braving it out as the gap between rival and wall closed.
The top three were just too far ahead for any more heroics, leaving Schumacher to chase an even faster lap on which to end his illustrious, if occasionally ill-starred, career. Fourth was no good to him in terms of an eighth title, and the puncture -like his Japanese engine failure - had done little to aid
Ferrari's constructors' championship bid, but Schumacher did his best to redress the balance, eventually helping the Scuderia to close the gap by four points in the final reckoning.
That gap would have been bigger, however, had it not been for the equally stunning performance of the local hero, a driver born not far from the Interlagos estate, Massa had been in imperious form all weekend, claiming pole for Brazil on Saturday, but always wondering if he would have to give best to his retiring team-mate come race day. Instead, he was able to succeed where others - notably one
Rubens Barrichello - had failed over the past 13 years, becoming the first Brazilian winner of the Brazilian Grand Prix since the late
Ayrton Senna in 1993.
Victory ensured him of third place in the drivers' championship, and a performance such as this will stand him in good stead for the battle with the incoming Raikkonen next season. It was just a shame that Sao Paulo 2006 will always be remembered as
Michael Schumacher's farewell.
