MELBOURNE, April 2 - Renault's Fernando Alonso won an incident-packed
Australian Grand Prix on Sunday to take a 14 point lead in the Formula One
standings.
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Renault Formula One
driver Giancarlo Fisichella of Italy crosses the finish line as Honda's
Jenson Button of Britain's car belches smoke at the end of the Australian
Grand Prix in Melbourne April 2, 2006. [Reuters] |
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The
24-year-old world champion claimed his second victory in three races this season
when he established an early lead then held off McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen to win
by less than two seconds on a dramatic afternoon at Albert Park.
"The car was perfect. We were not in danger of losing the race at any time,"
said the Spaniard. "There were no problems at all.
"Twenty eight points in the first three races is a dream come true, so let's
hope we finish like last year."
Ferrari's seven times world champion Michael Schumacher was among a handful
of drivers who were involved in high-speed crashes that forced officials to
interrupt the race.
Briton Jenson Button, who started on pole position, pulled over agonisingly
within sight of the finish line when his Honda's engine blew and burst into
flames. He had been in fifth place.
The safety car was introduced on four separate occasions to clear the track
after the circuit was showered by debris on a day of carnage, with almost half
the drivers failing to complete the race.
Ralf Schumacher stayed out of trouble to steer his Toyota into third place,
ahead of fellow German Nick Heidfeld's BMW Sauber and Alonso's Italian team mate
Giancarlo Fisichella, who profited from Button's misfortune.
Canadian Jacques Villeneuve was sixth for BMW Sauber, Button's Brazilian team
mate Rubens Barrichello was seventh with American Scott Speed taking the first
points for Scuderia Toro Rosso in eighth place.
POINTS GAP
Alonso has 28 points to 14 for Fisichella and Raikkonen. Schumacher and
Button are level on 11. Renault lead the constructors' standings with 42 to
McLaren's 23.