Webber wins Imola F3000.

Mark Webber led from start to finish of the second round of the FIA F3000 championship at Imola, allowing all the afternoon's incident to take place in his wake as he cruised to his second career victory.

The Australian got the jump at the lights - or would have done had there been any - and gradually increased his advantage over his pursuers as the race wore on. Only brief opposition from Britain's Darren Manning at the start - and re-start after a prolonged pace car period - caused Webber any problems, but he was eventually able to take a comfortable win.

Manning held on for second, despite having been forced onto the grass at the start of the race, and resisted late-race pressure from Nordic Racing's Tomas Enge to secure a podium finish for the Arden team.

Behind the Czech, a spirited battle for fourth eventually went the way of Brazilian rookie Antonio Pizzonia, who fended off fellow newcomer - and front row starter - Patrick Friesacher, and round one winner Justin Wilson to take three points.

A sixth lap accident for Gabriele Varano brought out the safety car, which proceeded to bunch the field up so tightly as re-passed the scene of the accident that Derek Hill and Gianluca Calcagni made contact, narrowly missing Varano's car, which was still being attended to by the marshals.

Full report and results to follow shortly....

Leading finishers - Imola F3000.

1. Mark Webber Super Nova
2. Darren Manning Arden
3. Tomas Enge Nordic
4. Antonio Pizzonia Petrobras
5. Patrick Friesacher Red Bull
6. Justin Wilson Nordic