Ralf Schumacher leads Toyota revival

MELBOURNE, Apr 2 (Reuters) Ralf Schumacher overcame a drive-through penalty to secure Toyota's first podium finish of the season at the Australian Grand Prix today.

Toyota, struggling in the first two races after finishing fourth overall last year, needed a boost and Schumacher provided it with a determined drive from sixth on the grid.

He collected the 10-second penalty for exceeding the pitlane speed limit but four safety car interruptions allowed him to carve his way through the field.

The hold-up caused by brother Michael crashing his Ferrari on lap 33 saw Ralf, who scored Toyota's first point of the year in Malaysia two weeks ago, leap two places to fifth.

He then took the ailing Honda of Jenson Button and BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld on lap 38 before holding on for his third spot, 24 seconds behind Kimi Raikkonen.

''The drive-through penalty was my fault because I accidentally hit the button twice but I was lucky and because of the safety car period we achieved a lot more than we ever thought before this weekend,'' said the German.

''It was a bit of a fight with all the backmarkers in there but after the third safety car I gained a couple of places which was great.'' Team mate Jarno Trulli said he was pleased for Ralf but criticised Red Bull's David Coulthard for the first lap spin that dumped him out of the race.

''This has been a disastrous weekend for me,'' said the Italian.

''I was following Coulthard who was going very slowly and zigzagging on the straight.

''I went to the inside to overtake him and I was ahead at the corner but he just closed the door on me, hitting me in the back. I was surprised by what he did.'' Reuters PDS BD1716