No first corner fracas - but grid invaded.

There was no Spanish repeat of the first lap shenanigans that 'graced' the San Marino Grand Prix, but an unsavoury incident preceded the fifth round of the world championship after a protester found his way onto the grid as the cars were on their warm-up lap.

Evoking memories of last year's British Grand Prix, when a religious protester broke through security in an attempt to get his message across to all and sundry while dodging cars on the Hangar Straight, the Spanish anti-capitalist at least picked a slower moment to stage his demonstration, parading up and down the empty grid with a banner opposing the Forum 2004 trade fair due to be held in Spain later this year. His protest was short-lived and he had been bundled away by marshals and security staff before the field re-assembled for the start.

Once underway, there was no likelihood of Michael Schumacher and Juan Montoya squaring up for a second bout of mechanical fisticuffs, as the Colombian made a poor getaway - allowing a lightning fast Jarno Trulli to take the lead by surprising Schumacher at the first corner.

"It was an interesting start, but not what I expected," the German admitted, "I thought I had a good start, but I watched in my mirrors and suddenly I saw this blue Jarno Trulli flying in!"

The world champion admitted that defence had crossed his mind, but that he then thought better of it.

"I did think about trying to close the door a bit, but I did not feel that was fair, so I let him do what he was doing," he revealed, "Then, a couple of times, I did think about passing him, but it was too tight, so I opted to wait for the pit-stops and let the strategy do the work."

"I made the kind of start you can only dream about," Trulli admitted, "but, even though Michael was behind, I knew he was faster than me."

The Italian eventually came home third, after losing out to the second Ferrari of Rubens Barrichello on strategy. Montoya, meanwhile, struggled all day before finally having to call it quits when his brakes disappeared.