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Emotional Felipe Massa says 3rd place at home Brazilian GP feels like a victory

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Williams driver Felipe Massa, of Brazil, celebrates the podium after finishing third in the Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix at the Interlagos race track in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg of Germany, right, fended off a strong charge by Lewis Hamilton, left, to win the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday, closing in on his Mercedes teammate in the Formula One title race. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan) (The Associated Press)

Fans invade the track to celebrate the third place finish of Williams driver Felipe Massa, of Brazil, at the end of the Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix at the Interlagos race track in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) (The Associated Press)

Felipe Massa celebrated his podium finish at the Brazilian Grand Prix as if he had won the race.

Massa made two mistakes that could have been costly, but recovered to cross the finish line in third place to the delight of the home crowd packing the Interlagos track on Sunday.

Nico Rosberg won the race, ahead of Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton.

The 33-year-old Brazilian driver said he was "very emotional" and that the result felt "like a victory" because everybody knew it wouldn't be possible to overcome the two Mercedes drivers under normal circumstances.

Fans rushed onto the track after the race to get near the podium where the trophies were awarded and loudly chanted "Ole, ole ole, Massa, Massa..."