Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel won the inaugural Indian Formula One Grand Prix at the spanking new Buddh International Circuit here today.
The world champion (1:30'35.002) made it 11 victories in 2011 after once again appearing completely in control.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati presented the winning trophy to the 24-year-old German.
McLaren's Jenson Button (1:30'43.435) was 8.4sec behind in second, while Fernando Alonso (1:30'59.303) took third for Ferrari.
Leading every lap in the contest, Vettel waited until the 59th and final lap to set the fastest lap time of 1'27.249, winning in emphatic style.
The German also set a record for the most laps led in a single season by any driver, leapfrogging Britain's 1992 champion Nigel Mansell in the statisticians' lists.
"Yes boys, we did it," shouted Vettel after cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar brought down the chequered flag. "New track, new challenge."
He now has 374 points with two races remaining, Button 240, Alonso 227 and Red Bull's Australian Mark Webber (1:31'00.531)-- who finished fourth after starting on the front row -- 221.
The German has 11 wins this season, and victories in the final two races in Brazil and Abu Dhabi would equal Schumacher's record of 13 wins.
Vettel and his team are not letting up despite already having clinched the drivers' and constructors' championships.
FORCE INDIA
Sahara Force India's Adrain Sutil, who started the race from eighth position, finished at 9th and his fellow driver Paul di Resta finished at 13th position.
"It was quite a good race and I think we can be happy with the two points today.
"In the early laps I struggled with the rear of the car, with a bit of oversteer, and could not hold off the Toro Rossos who were a bit quicker today," Sutil said.
"But in the second and third stint the car balance improved and I was able to keep the Sauber (Perez) behind me in the closing laps. We were also fortunate that Buemi retired, which gave me another position. I think ninth was probably the maximum today and I hope Vijay will have a smile on his face tonight."
Force India co-owner Vijay Mallya expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance.
"Today's Indian Grand Prix was a great event. We targeted points and that's exactly what we delivered with Adrian's excellent drive to ninth," said he.
"As for Paul, he performed well, but we went very aggressive with the strategy to cover the chance of a safety car.
"In the end it didn't work out, but we needed to cover our bases. These two points are important for our championship battle and I am delighted that Sahara Force India will go down in the record books for scoring points in the inaugural Indian Grand Prix."
India's Narain Karthikeyan, who drives for Hispania Racing, started at the 23rd position, finished at 17th position.
He was benefited by the collision of four cars at the rear end going into turn one. Karthikeyan gain another few places momentarily but fell back later to equal his performance at Monaco and Canada.
COLLISION
The race saw yet another collision between McLaren's 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari's Felipe Massa, their sixth on-track clash of the season.
Massa was given a pit drive-through penalty before later breaking his front suspension and retiring from the race.
British comedy actor Rowan Atkinson, 'Mr Bean', was watching the race as a guest of the McLaren team and his anguished expression was there for all to see as the arch-rivals came together once again
on turn five of lap 23.
Over the radio Hamilton said: "He turned in on me. He didn't give me any space."
A total of five retirements took place in the race.
MINUTE'S SILENCE
Before the race, all drivers and top team personnel plus Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone observed a moment of silence on the grid to mark the deaths of IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon
and MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli this month.
Vettel paid tribute to Wheldon and MotoGP Simoncelli, both killed in races over the past two weeks.
"To be honest with you, it is a little bit of a mixed emotion," said Vettel.
"On the one hand I am very happy, very proud to be the first winner, but on the other hand looking back at last weekend we lost two of our mates. I didn't know Dan but obviously he is a
big name in motorsport."
As promised the circuit delivered excellent overtaking opportunities and remained competitive throughout the required 60 laps.
The world champion (1:30'35.002) made it 11 victories in 2011 after once again appearing completely in control.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati presented the winning trophy to the 24-year-old German.
McLaren's Jenson Button (1:30'43.435) was 8.4sec behind in second, while Fernando Alonso (1:30'59.303) took third for Ferrari.
Leading every lap in the contest, Vettel waited until the 59th and final lap to set the fastest lap time of 1'27.249, winning in emphatic style.
The German also set a record for the most laps led in a single season by any driver, leapfrogging Britain's 1992 champion Nigel Mansell in the statisticians' lists.
"Yes boys, we did it," shouted Vettel after cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar brought down the chequered flag. "New track, new challenge."
He now has 374 points with two races remaining, Button 240, Alonso 227 and Red Bull's Australian Mark Webber (1:31'00.531)-- who finished fourth after starting on the front row -- 221.
The German has 11 wins this season, and victories in the final two races in Brazil and Abu Dhabi would equal Schumacher's record of 13 wins.
Vettel and his team are not letting up despite already having clinched the drivers' and constructors' championships.
FORCE INDIA
Sahara Force India's Adrain Sutil, who started the race from eighth position, finished at 9th and his fellow driver Paul di Resta finished at 13th position.
"It was quite a good race and I think we can be happy with the two points today.
"In the early laps I struggled with the rear of the car, with a bit of oversteer, and could not hold off the Toro Rossos who were a bit quicker today," Sutil said.
"But in the second and third stint the car balance improved and I was able to keep the Sauber (Perez) behind me in the closing laps. We were also fortunate that Buemi retired, which gave me another position. I think ninth was probably the maximum today and I hope Vijay will have a smile on his face tonight."
Force India co-owner Vijay Mallya expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance.
"Today's Indian Grand Prix was a great event. We targeted points and that's exactly what we delivered with Adrian's excellent drive to ninth," said he.
"As for Paul, he performed well, but we went very aggressive with the strategy to cover the chance of a safety car.
"In the end it didn't work out, but we needed to cover our bases. These two points are important for our championship battle and I am delighted that Sahara Force India will go down in the record books for scoring points in the inaugural Indian Grand Prix."
India's Narain Karthikeyan, who drives for Hispania Racing, started at the 23rd position, finished at 17th position.
He was benefited by the collision of four cars at the rear end going into turn one. Karthikeyan gain another few places momentarily but fell back later to equal his performance at Monaco and Canada.
COLLISION
The race saw yet another collision between McLaren's 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari's Felipe Massa, their sixth on-track clash of the season.
Massa was given a pit drive-through penalty before later breaking his front suspension and retiring from the race.
British comedy actor Rowan Atkinson, 'Mr Bean', was watching the race as a guest of the McLaren team and his anguished expression was there for all to see as the arch-rivals came together once again
on turn five of lap 23.
Over the radio Hamilton said: "He turned in on me. He didn't give me any space."
A total of five retirements took place in the race.
MINUTE'S SILENCE
Before the race, all drivers and top team personnel plus Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone observed a moment of silence on the grid to mark the deaths of IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon
and MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli this month.
Vettel paid tribute to Wheldon and MotoGP Simoncelli, both killed in races over the past two weeks.
"To be honest with you, it is a little bit of a mixed emotion," said Vettel.
"On the one hand I am very happy, very proud to be the first winner, but on the other hand looking back at last weekend we lost two of our mates. I didn't know Dan but obviously he is a
big name in motorsport."
As promised the circuit delivered excellent overtaking opportunities and remained competitive throughout the required 60 laps.
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