Elated Webber takes first Formula One win

By Alan Baldwin

NUERBURGRING, Germany (Reuters) - Elated Australian Mark Webber shrugged off a drive-through penalty and screamed with joy after winning the German Grand Prix Sunday and finally becoming a Formula One winner in his 130th race.

German team mate Sebastian Vettel finished second in a Red Bull one-two to cut Briton Jenson Button's championship lead to 21 points with eight races remaining. Ferrari's Felipe Massa was third, his first podium of the year.

Brawn GP's Button has 68 points, while Vettel moved up to second on 47 and Webber third on 45.5. Red Bull closed the gap with Mercedes-powered leaders Brawn in the constructors' standings to 19.5 points.

The normally calm Webber allowed all the years of pent-up emotion to pour out as he took the chequered flag, bellowing his jubilation across the team radio as he won for the first time in 130 starts.

"Mark Webber, you are a grand prix winner. Well done, brilliant drive," replied team boss Christian Horner once the driver had stopped yelling.

Watched by his proud father Alan, the Australian took a deep breath and soaked up the atmosphere as he heard his national anthem sound out for a grand prix winner for the first time since Alan Jones for Williams in Las Vegas in October 1981.

"It's an incredible day for me, I wanted to win so badly," said Webber, who had started from pole position.

DRIVE-THROUGH