IMOLA, Italy - Michael Schumacher's stunning comeback in Sunday's San Marino Grand Prix has set up a potentially thrilling battle between the Ferrari star and his challengers.
Seven-time champion Schumacher showed he is back on form with a thrilling drive through the field to second but current championship leader Fernando Alonso proved he is a match for the German.
Alonso absorbed the pressure as Schumacher hounded him for more than 10 laps to take the chequered flag a split second ahead and secure his third consecutive victory of the season.
"It was a thrilling race. Michael had an exceptional race, starting thirteenth and finishing within a hair's breadth of the winner, who had a great race," Ferrari chief Jean Todt said.
"This is our answer to those who thought we would not be more competitive again. We know that championship titles are obtained by winning races and that is what we will be trying to do in the next round in Barcelona."
Schumacher was more than two seconds per lap faster than his rivals during the middle of the Imola race and he stormed past Briton Jenson Button's BAR-Honda in the closing stages to set up a run on Alonso.
The German, who dominated the title race last year, admitted has was excited by the thrill of racing Alonso and believes the rest of the season could now be one of the best in recent years.
Schumacher tipped Alonso, third-placed BAR-Honda driver Button and Finn Kimi Raikkonen, who was forced to retire early in the race, as the ones to watch for the rest of the season.
"That is the way it is now. Fernando now has a car that he can compete with, which he didn't have in the past. Basically, he had a good race and made no mistakes. That's why he won and I did not," Schumacher said.
"I don't think there is a secret the top three (at Imola) are good drivers, and there are some others like Kimi and so on, so it is normal. If they have the right car they fight amongst each other."
But if there is any race that Alonso wants to win it is the next one, in his native Spain. And after declaring the Imola victory the best of his career he is ready for another fight in Barcelona in two weeks' time.
"I was ready to fight for the last laps, I really wanted the victory here," he said. "In Spain, I know the atmosphere will be amazing. It will be completely full from Friday to Sunday and we are at a good moment.
"Hopefully we can finish the race and I am sure that with the performance we have, we can get a podium again. So I really hope it will be a big party for everyone."
04/25/2005 09:18 GMT