The final race of the 2004 season proved dramatic from the outset, but come the chequered flag it was Juan Pablo Montoya who secured his first race win of the season and the fourth of his career from Kimi Raikkonen who chased him across the line to take a fine second position.

It was not an easy win for Montoya who leaves BMW Williams for McLaren. There was the rain at the start of the race, the race-pace itself and the chase from Raikkonen.

"I had four years with Williams, we had ups downs and everything and I think to close the four years with a win is unbelievable," Montoya said. "It was a really hard race. The team told me that Kimi was going longer so right before the stop I managed to get a couple of laps that I think gave me enough to stay ahead. I want to thank Frank. I think I have thanked all the team except Frank, so thanks Frank."

With Montoya delighted with his win and Kimi Raikkonen seemingly under whelmed with his second place, third place went to Rubens Barrichello.

The opening laps of the Brazilian Grand Prix were critical to the outcome of the race. With the circuit slippery as rain fell, Barrichello led the way during the opening stages. However, Ferrari were not fast enough on calling him in for his first pitstop to change to standard dry weather Bridgestone’s. This cost Barrichello any chance of victory and he crossed the line 24 second behind the race winner.

For Barrichello, the race result will be a major disappointment, but at least he can take satisfaction from his first finish at Interlagos since 1993.

Fernando Alonso drove a good race to finish fourth in his Renault. The Spaniard gambled on a two-stop strategy and started the race on dry weather tyres. The gamble nearly paid off, but as Alonso led a good portion of the race but did not quite have the pace to make the strategy pay off.

The closing stages of the race saw Alonso, Ralf Schumacher, Takuma Sato and Michael Schumacher all running nose to tail. Alonso held off Ralf Schumacher who passed Sato late in the race.

For Sato, sixth position will be a disappointment as he and Ralf Schumacher battled hard and to lose out so late in the race is tough. The Japanese driver held off Michael Schumacher who had a low- key final race.

For Sauber, starting fourth with Felipe Massa, his eighth position brought the team just one point. Like Barrichello, Massa stated out too long in the opening stages of the race before pitting for dry Bridgestone tyres. It was a costly mistake as the time could never be regained but at least Massa can now say he has led the Brazilian Grand Prix, albeit for one lap.

Giancarlo Fisichella finished in ninth position right behind Massa. Jacques Villeneuve’s final race with Renault again yielded no points, but the former Champion put in a much better performance in Brazil than he did at either Japan or China.

David Coulthard brought his McLaren Mercedes career to end with 12th position. The Scot was one of many drivers to make light contact in the mad rush into turn one at the start of the race and as a result, his McLaren never felt quite right. Starting the race on dry Michelin tyres was a gamble, but Coulthard could not produce the lap times today and he finished a lap down in 11th position.

Over at Toyota, glimmers of hope that were offered up in qualification came to nothing as neither Jarno Trulli or Ricardo Zonta could find any real speed in the TF104B and they finished 12th and 13th. A very disappointing season from Toyota.

Christian Klien finished in 14th position for Jaguar Racing. It was a sad final race for the team. Klien ran ahead of Webber, but the Australian driver proved too impatient and took a dive to pass Klien into the first turn. Carry a bit too much speed Webber struck the side of Klien and eliminated himself from the race, Klien raced back to the pits for a new front wing and went on to finish two laps adrift. Jaguar Racing now hope to find a buyer for the team but Mark Webber is on his way to BMW Williams where such errors are not permitted.

Timo Glock finished 15th for Jordan while Nick Heidfeld failed to finish due to mechanical problems. The Minardi duo of Zsolt Baumgartner finish 16th and 17th for Minardi while Jenson Button’s season finished in disappointment following a Honda engine failure.