Brazilian Grand Prix 2005 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Juan Pablo Montoya claimed a brilliant victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix, leading home teammate Kimi Raikkonen in a McLaren one-two finish ahead of championship leader Fernando Alonso at Interlagos. The Colombian driver's third win for McLaren came from Alonso's pole position, but the Spaniard could only manage third place, leaving him needing just a podium finish at the penultimate round in Japan to secure his first World Championship title.

Starting from pole with a lap of 1:11.988, Alonso had hoped to clinch the championship on Brazilian soil, but the McLarens proved too fast in race trim. Montoya drove an aggressive, determined race that showcased his racecraft and tire management skills on the challenging Interlagos circuit. The Colombian seized the lead early and controlled the grand prix from the front, managing his Michelin tires perfectly through the Brazilian circuit's demanding combination of elevation changes and high-speed corners. Raikkonen backed up the result with second place, setting the fastest lap of 1:12.268 and completing a dominant McLaren performance that demonstrated what might have been if reliability hadn't plagued their season.

Alonso salvaged third place to extend his championship lead, knowing that a top-three finish in Japan would secure the title regardless of other results. His podium finish was exactly what his campaign needed at this stage - points that moved him to the brink of the championship. The McLaren one-two was a bittersweet moment for the team - they had the fastest car and drivers capable of winning the title, but chronic reliability issues had cost them dearly throughout the season. Montoya's Brazilian victory marked his third win for McLaren, confirming his status as one of F1's elite drivers, while Raikkonen's seven wins from races he actually finished highlighted the painful reality of what could have been. Alonso headed to Japan needing just one more podium to become Formula 1's youngest-ever world champion.