From BBC.CO.UK/SPORT Renault's Fernando Alonso became the youngest ever Formula One champion with a third-place finish behind Juan Pablo Montoya in the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Alonso needed to finish on the podium to secure the title and it was never really in doubt despite an early slip.
The 24-year-old let Montoya pass when he locked a wheel on the second lap, but from there he drove a perfect race.
Alonso's only title rival Kimi Raikkonen finished second behind his McLaren team-mate Montoya.
That was enough to secure second place in the standings for the Finn.
Alonso was already the youngest driver ever to clinch a pole position start in Formula One and the youngest to win a race.
The title victory meant he beat Emerson Fittipaldi's record as the youngest champion by more than a year.
"I am extremely happy and it is a very emotional day for me," said Alonso.
"I came from a country with no tradition in Formula One and I fought alone basically because I have not had any help from anybody all throughout my career.
"I arrived in Formula One thanks to the results in previous categories and my sponsors.
"This is the maximum I can achieve in my life and career."
Renault team boss Flavio Briatore paid tribute to his driver, saying: "It has been a fantastic championship and Fernando is a fantastic champion.
"He has been so consistent this year. His one mistake was in Canada and other than that he has been fantastic. He is terrific."
Alonso was safely away from pole position and avoided the collision that took out three cars before the first corner.
David Coulthard's Red Bull was involved with the two Williams and the safety car was called out.
 Coulthard came to grief before the first corner
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Mark Webber's Williams burst into flames as it returned to the pits but no-one appeared to be hurt, and he later returned to the race.
But on lap two Alonso suffered a wheel lock and Montoya took advantage to take the lead.
Raikkonen had jumped from fifth on the grid to third and Alonso was now sandwiched between the two McLarens.
But the McLaren driver appeared to have started with a heavier fuel load than Alonso and the Spaniard slowly opened up a gap on his rival for the title.
That all changed when Alonso was the first of the leaders to pit and once Raikkonen pitted six laps later he had made up the time to return in second place.
From there it was a just a question of whether Alonso would make a mistake to lose third place while it was left to the two McLarens to battle it out for the race victory at the front.
Raikkonen was unable to bridge the gap on Montoya, but it was immaterial with Alonso safely tucked in behind him.
Montoya's victory took up to third in the standings level with Michael Schumacher.
Schumacher took his Ferrari to fourth place, with the second Renault of Giancarlo Fisichella fifth and Rubens Barrichello sixth.
Jenson Button had to settle for seventh after qualifying in fourth, while Ralf Schumacher rounded out the points in his Toyota.
The result meant McLaren became the first team to record a one-two this season and that was enough to move them to the top of the constructors' championship above Renault.
Brazilian Grand Prix result
1. Juan Pablo Montoya (COL) McLaren-Mercedes 1hr 29min 20.574sec
2. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) McLaren-Mercedes at 2.527sec
3. Fernando Alonso (ESP) Renault 24.840
4. Michael Schumacher (GER) Ferrari 35.668
5. Giancarlo Fisichella (ITA) Renault 40.218
6. Rubens Barrichello (BRA) Ferrari 1:09.173
7. Jenson Button (GBR) BAR-Honda 1 lap
8. Ralf Schumacher (GER) Toyota 1 lap
9. Christian Klien (AUT) Red Bull 1 lap
10. Takuma Sato (JPN) BAR-Honda 1 lap
11. Felipe Massa (BRA) Sauber-Petronas 1 lap
12. Jacques Villeneuve (CAN) Sauber-Petronas 1 lap
13. Jarno Trulli (ITA) Toyota 2 laps
14. Christijan Albers (NED) Minardi 2 laps
15. Narain Karthikeyan (IND) Jordan 3 laps
Not classified
r. Tiago Monteiro (POR) Jordan 16 laps
nc. Mark Webber (AUS) Williams 26 laps
r. Robert Doornbos (NED) Minardi 37 laps
r. Antonio Pizzonia (BRA) Williams 71 laps
r. David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull 71 laps
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I Am now very happy that someone other than Michael Schmacher has won the world title.
The way they shook up the rules & tried making F1 interesting has paid off with a new champion.
Also, Valentino Rossi won his 5th moto gp crown today and the new A1 racing was won for Brazil by Nelson Pique Jnr, Great Britian are in 6th after the first races at Brans Hatch.