Chilean full back Luis Figueroa had put Palmeiras ahead and Chico equalised before Danilo scored the winner from a corner 20 minutes from time on Saturday to send Palmeiras five points clear in the standings.
Palmeiras now have 50 points, while second placed Goias have 45 after their 2-1 win over Gremio and are ahead of Sao Paulo having scored more goals, with Internacional fourth on 44 after a 0-0 draw at home to Flamengo.
Corinthians striker Ronaldo scored one goal and could have had another in their 1-1 draw with local rivals Sao Paulo on Sunday.
Ronaldo, who will be 33 on Tuesday, latched on to a poor back pass from defender Andre Dias to goalkeeper Bosco in the 20th minute and tapped in.
Playing in only his second match since returning from a two-month injury layoff after surgery on a broken hand, he might have scored again when he set off on a characteristic run from midfield but, lacking the pace of his best years, he was robbed by Richarlyson in the box.
Substitute Washington equalised for the champions when he lobbed keeper Felipe 20 minutes from the end, five minutes after coming on for Borges.
He was then sent off in the last minute for a second yellow card having been booked the first time for taking off his shirt to celebrate his equaliser.
Corinthians, ninth with 38 points, gave a debut to their new 20-year-old Argentine playmaker Matias Defederico, who carries the weight of trying to emulate compatriot Carlos Tevez who inspired the team to the Brazilian league title in 2005.
Defederico, who helped Huracan to the runners-up spot in the Argentine Clausura championship in July and was dubbed the new Lionel Messi in Brazil, had an indifferent game and was booked for a bad foul.
