Alonso takes chequered flag in dramatic race in Singapore
Sunday, 28 Sep 2008 21:04
Fernando Alonso wins his first race since leaving McLaren for Renault.
Fernando Alonso has won the first Singapore night race while Lewis Hamilton finished third.
Double world champion Alonso, who started in 15th position, won his first race since his triumph in Italy last year.
McLaren's Hamilton finished behind Williams' Nico Rosburg, a result which increases his lead in the drivers' championship to seven points.
That was after Ferrari's Felipe Massa finished 13th having led the race before a disastrous pit-stop saw him plummet down the grid.
Toyota's Tim Glock was a surprise fourth while Sebastien Vessel was fifth for Torro Rosso. BME Saube's Nick Heidfeld took sixth, ahead of Red Bull's David Coulthard.
But it was Alonso's day as the Spaniard put a season of disappointment behind him. The decision to make an early pit stop paid off when the safety car came out on lap 15 after his team-mate Nelson Piquet Jr crashed into the barriers.
Alonso was the only driver who did not have to pit and climbed up to fifth place. The Spaniard then moved in front after Rosberg and Kubica were given stop-go penalties for pitting while the pit lane was closed during the safety car period.
Despite the safety car being introduced again with ten laps left, Alonso held off the challenge of Rosberg to take the chequered flag.
In contrast, Massa had a disastrous race having built up a solid lead over Hamilton in the early stages.
When the Brazilian pitted, he was given a green light to leave the before the refuelling hose had been removed. He pulled away, knocked over a mechanic who was take to hospital on a stretcher, and ripped the refuelling hose away.
Massa was forced to wait for his mechanics to remove the hose before he joined the race at the back and was then given a drive-through penalty for leaving his pit lane dangerously.
Meanwhile title rival Hamilton, who started second on pole, dropped back behind Mark Webber and Coulthard during the safety car period.
The McLaren drvier moved up to third on lap 42 when he passed Coulthard, moments after the gearbox on Webber's Red Bull failed.
After Massa's blunder, Hamilton chose not to take any risks in the closing stages in his pursuit of Rosberg.
With three races remaining, the next grand prix is in Japan on October 12th.