NUERBURGRING, Germany - After a one-week departure from form, Formula One returned to its set ways: a victory by Michael Schumacher.
He captured the European Grand Prix in his home country Sunday, rebounding from last week's crash at Monaco to win for the sixth time in seven races this season.
The six-time world champion was on the pole and recorded his 76th series victory. Rubens Barrichello was almost 18 seconds behind, giving Ferrari its fourth 1-2 finish this season.
Jenson Button was third. His BAR-Honda teammate, Takuma Sato, blew an engine late while in second place. Button has made the most consistent runs at Schumacher this season, with two seconds and three thirds in the past six races.
Schumacher's five-race, season-opening winning streak ended at the Monaco Grand Prix last week when he was hit by Juan Pablo Montoya.
Schumacher completed the 60 laps around the 3.2-mile circuit in 1 hour, 32 minutes, 35.101 seconds, averaging 124.399 mph.
The Renaults of Jarno Trulli and Fernando Alonso, the only two cars to beat the Ferraris dating to August, were fourth and fifth. Trulli won in Monaco last week, and Alonso in Hungary last year.
Schumacher led easily into the first turn. Then he pulled away with astonishing ease.
"I had a good start and that was half of the race to get the gap I needed," Schumacher said.
After five laps, he led by 11.5 seconds. Two laps later, it was apparent Schumacher was on a light fuel load. He came in at the end of eight laps and rejoined in sixth place.
Nearly all the other contenders, however, came in during the next three laps. By the time things sorted out, Schumacher was back in front ahead of Sato and Barrichello.
At 20 laps, Schumacher led Sato by 16.4 seconds. By the next round of pit stops after 40 laps, Schumacher held an 18-second advantage on him.
"It was fantastic to see how much I was able to pull away," Schumacher said.
NHRA: Brandon Bernstein took the lead in the Top Fuel standings with his third title of the season at the O'Reilly Summer Nationals in Topeka, Kan. Bernstein finished in 4.72 seconds at 294 mph. Greg Anderson got his seventh victory in nine Pro Stock events, and Whit Bazemore won his 17th career Funny Car event.
