Karting: Barrichello wins Massa's event in Brazil

From MF2 Serviços Jornalísticos

Rubens Barrichello may have not secured his seat in Formula 1 for 2009, but remains a kind of king of the go-kart events at the end of the season in Brazil.

Two weeks after winning the Granja Viana 500 Mile for the eighth time, the record holder of starts in F1 grabbed today the International Challenge of Go-Kart Champs, in front of 12.000 supporters that attended the race promoted by Ferrari's Felipe Massa.

Barrichello won the first race, ahead of Di Grassi and Brazilian Stock Car ace Thiago Camilo. With a reversed Top 8 positions grid, Massa replied in the second, beating Felipe Giaffone and Di Grassi in the process.

Schumacher collected a 4th place in the first heat, but was prevented from continuing in the second after being hit from behind by Camilo. Asked if could come back next year, Schumacher seemed optimistic. "Why not?"

The event was promoted under the shadow of a tragedy that shocked the Santa Catarina State, whose capital is Florianópolis. Over 100 people died and more than 54.000 families were left homeless after the flooding and earth slide caused by heavy rains last week.

Massa donated himself R$ 50.000 (US$ 25.000), urged his colleagues to follow his example and they did not let him down. Schumacher has promised to land some 10.000 Euro.

Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi did not take part of Heat 2 after he injured his ribs in the first race.


Final standings:

1) Rubens Barrichello, 36 points;
2) Lucas Di Grassi, 35;
3) Felipe Massa, 31;
4) Felipe Giaffone, 26;
5) Xandinho Negrão, 21
6) Thiago Camilo, 18;
7) Max Wilson, 16;
8) Michael Schumacher, 13;
9) Allam Khodair, 10;
10) Antonio Pizzonia and João Paulo Oliveira, 9;
12) Ricardo Zonta, 8;
13) Tarso Marques, 7;
14) Popó Bueno, 6;
15) Tony Kanaan, Mario Moraes and Roberto Pupo Moreno, 6;
18) Luciano Burti and Vitor Meira, 4.