Michael Schumacher takes full advantage of his pole position to lead into the first corner at Ferrari's home track

But a spectacular crash involving Christijan Albers and Yuji Ide on the opening lap brings out the safety car

Schumacher clocks the fastest lap early on, but struggles to shake off Jenson Button and fellow Ferrari driver Felipe Massa

Massa moves up to second when Button pits, but he holds up Renault's Fernando Alonso to help Schumacher extend his lead

But Renault's pit strategy appears to pay off when Alonso comes out ahead of Massa and Button to go second

Button's hopes of a podium finish are severely dented by a poor second pit stop and the British driver finishes seventh

Alonso closes right up on Schumacher, who is suffering from tyre problems, but the Spaniard cannot find a way past

And Schumacher manages to hold off the reigning world champion to record his seventh victory at Imola

Ferrari fans swarm onto the track to congratulate Schumacher on his 85th Grand Prix victory

The German ace celebrates in trademark fashion alongside Alonso and third-placed Juan Pablo Montoya