The 71-lap race was won by McLaren driver Juan Pablo Montoya, who took the seventh and final victory of his career, ahead of his teammate, Kimi Räikkönen, who finished second.

Enrico Toccacelo, Minardi's third driver was not present in Brazil as he competed for the Italian team in the opening round of the A1 Grand Prix series at Brands Hatch.

The German had also missed the two previous Grands Prix due to the consequences of an accident in a test session in Monza.

McLaren CEO Ron Dennis remained confident of his team's race strategy given Juan Pablo Montoya's strong second position, despite a major error in the qualifying lap of Kimi Räikkönen.

Juan Pablo Montoya won the race ahead of teammate Kimi Räikkönen; McLaren's first 1–2 finish since the 2000 Austrian Grand Prix.