in fine conditions trulli beat button to the first corner off the grid, and the fast starting takuma sato beat kimi räikkönen and michael schumacher to fourth place before retiring at the end of the second lap. on lap three the safety car was deployed due to a collision between david coulthard and giancarlo fisichella, with the race resuming on lap seven. the two renault drivers, trulli and fernando alonso remained close together at the front of the race until the pit stops which briefly saw michael schumacher lead the race. alonso retired after crashing trying to lap ralf schumacher, and a second safety car period ensued. after briefly leading, michael schumacher retired behind the safety car following a collision with juan-pablo montoya, who subsequently finished fourth. schumacher's retirement elevated button to second, and trulli to the lead. button subsequently reduced trulli's lead, and the pair raced closely until the finish.