UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > Race: Alonso wins as Kimi falters

Raikkonen loses race...

Fernando Alonso extended his lead in the World Championship with a somewhat fortuitous victory in the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim.

Kimi Raikkonen (McLaren), having led commandingly from pole position until half-distance, coasted to a halt with a hydraulic failure on lap 35, leaving the door open for his Renault rival to triumph again.

Juan Pablo Montoya salvaged some satisfaction for Mclaren after a stunning drive from last on the grid to finish second, ahead of the BAR-Honda of Jenson Button who drove a fine race to secure the final podium position.

Michael Schumacher ran third for most of the race, but the Ferrari proved particularly hard on rear tyres and he dropped down the order late in the race.

Schumacher then found himself in a battle with Giancarlo Fisichella in the second Renault, and Ralf Schumacher in the lead Toyota.

With five laps to go Michael took to making his Ferrari as wide as possible as Fisichella behind him proved very eager to get past.

Three to go and the battle intensified, the Renault diving all over the Ferrari, and meanwhile David Coulthard had capitalised on the Ferrari's slow pace to catch up to the rear of the younger Schumachers Toyota.

On the final lap Fisichella dived past Michael down the back straight, stealing fourth with just a few miles to go.

Michael just managed to hold fifth from brother Ralf in sixth, with the fast-closing Coulthard an excellent seventh for Red Bull.

The final points position went to Felipe Massa, the Sauber driver running a smooth race after an excellent start, and the final man on the lead lap was ninth placed Christian Klien in the second Red Bull.

Rubens Barrichello could only manage tenth place, his Ferrari suffering from chronic lack of grip all race, while Nick Heidfeld proved that the Williams BMW's had flattered to decieve in qualifying with 11th position.

Takuma Sato finished 12th, the BAR number two having been one of many drivers involved in incidents on the opening lap, while Crijstian Albers continues to impress with an excellent 13th for Minardi.

Jarno Trulli, having pitted no fewer than six times due to a persistent pneumatics problem with his Toyota, was classified 14th.

Saubers Jacques Villeneuve finished 15th.

Villeneuve was another first lap casualty, also suffering a coming together with Tiago Montiero in the Jordan.

Monteiro finished 17th, behind team-mate Narain Karthikeyan in 16th place.

Robert Doornbos had a frantic race to finish 18th, while Mark Webber was the last classified runner eight laps down after a first lap frustration.

But the last word must go to the only man not to finish.

Kimi Raikkonen has been, undoubtedly, on the receiving end of much of this seasons bad luck, and his dominant performance in the early part of this race reinforced the fact that he and the McLaren are, in terms of speed, the class of the field.

Raikkonen now faces a seemingly insurmountable challenge to claw back Alonso's 36 point lead.

Next weekend is the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Can McLaren last the distance?

Written: Sun, 24 Jul 2005 13:46:18