Monza, Italy ? Rubens Barrichello won the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday, overcoming an unscheduled early pit stop to finish ahead of world champion Michael Schumacher in a 1-2 showing by Ferrari on its home track.

Barrichello has won this race two of the last three years, and now has eight Formula One career victories. The performance by Ferrari sparked celebrations by thousands of Italian fans who displayed the team colors with red caps and shirts.

“It was a very exciting Grand Prix,” Barrichello said. “It was magic, not boring contrary to what many people say about Formula One.”

The Brazilian started from pole but had to pit stop after five laps to change tires and change his aerodynamic settings to complete the 53-lap race. He finished 1.3 seconds ahead of Schumacher. The teammates drove a parade lap wheel to wheel after crossing the line, raising their arms to salute the crowd.

Jenson Button, who led for several laps, drove his Bar-Honda to third place. He trailed the winner by 10.1 seconds.

“Ferrari guys were just too quick today,” Button said. “I did not think Ferrari could be so strong.”

Barrichello was timed in 1 hour, 15 minutes, 18.448 seconds and averaged 151.511 mph. His win gave him 98 points in the driver standings, 38 behind Schumacher. Button was third with 71. Schumacher, who was going for his 13th win of the season, skidded off a corner during the first lap, losing 21 seconds to the leading drivers.

Carpentier defends GP title

Monterey, Calif. — Patrick Carpentier dominated Sunday’s Bridgestone Grand Prix of Monterey for the second straight year.

Carpentier inherited the top spot when Michel Jourdain Jr. — on a different pit strategy — made a stop on lap 41. The race was shortened from its scheduled 80 laps on the 2.238-mile, 11-turn road circuit to 79 by Champ Car’s 1 hour, 45 minute time limit for road races.

Series leader Sebastien Bourdais started from the pole but had a miserable day, twice pitting with flat tires after banging into other cars, and also losing a position when he slid through the sand on the last lap.

Newman-Haas Racing teammate Bruno Junqueira finished second to Carpentier for the second straight year.

Fernandez holds off Herta

Joliet, Ill. — Adrian Fernandez refused to give Bryan Herta any room as they raced to the finish line of the Delphi Indy 300 on Sunday afternoon, crossing the finish line 0.0716 seconds ahead to get his second win of the season.

Fernandez’s first win, at Kentucky, came under similar circumstances, as he held off late challenges from Buddy Rice, Dan Wheldon and Kosuke Matsurra.

Rice might have made a run at Fernandez again if not for a scary crash on lap 186. The Indianapolis 500 winner was running fifth when Darren Manning’s right front tire touched Rice’s left rear as they came out of turn 2. The impact turned Rice’s car sideways and lifted it up into the air, starting a tumble up and backward over Manning’s car.