On This Day: Montoya stuns Schumacher but robbed of win

Juan Pablo Montoya made a splash in his rookie Formula 1 season on this day 17 years ago. The Colombian pulled off an audacious overtake on all-conquering champion Michael Schumacher at the Brazilian Grand Prix, but was denied a deserved victory.

Schumacher had won the opening two races of the season from pole and looked set for another dominant day after qualifying three tenths clear of brother Ralf, with Mika Hakkinen and Montoya on the second row.

Hakkinen stalled on the grid, bringing out a safety car and Rubens Barichello rammed Ralf Schumacher off the road at the restart, but a cataclysmic event was taking place elsewhere.

Montoya drafted behind the reigning champion brilliantly before taking the inside line and blasting past Schumacher.

The German icon was even given a taste of his own medicine, Montoya nudging his rival right to the edge of track limits, forcing Schumacher to give up the fight and maintain second place.

In just his third F1 race, Montoya's move was jaw-dropping, and he soon went along driving his Williams up the road to what looked like certain victory.

But the win was snatched away from him in utterly bizarre circumstances.

Montoya was slicing his way through the back of the field and came to the Arrows of Jos Verstappen at turn four.

Verstappen obligingly let Montoya past but then smashed into the back-end of the Williams, retiring both men.

Montoya looked bemused as he got out of the car and waved to a shocked crowd as he made his way back to the pits.

Soon after the incident, heavy rain showers would play a big role in deciding the race, Schumacher spinning while struggling to handle the wet condition, allowing David Coulthard to pull onto his back-end.

As the leading pair approached the Minardi of Tarso Marques, Coulthard used a draft from the back-marker to go around Schumacher, similar to McLaren team-mate Hakkinen's pass on Schumacher in Belgium the previous season.

Schumacher spun again as he struggled home to take second behind Coulthard. Nick Heidfeld took third for Sauber - his first podium finish.