Alonso wants first Canadian win, Schumacher his eighth

By Volker Gundrum Jun 22, 2006, 13:16 GMT

Montreal - Fernando Alonso wants to add the Canadian Grand Prix to his winning list on Sunday while Formula One title rival Michael Schumacher seeks a historic eighth win at one venue there.

The two stars resume their rivalry in a North American double- header which sees the US race a week later in Indianapolis.

Schumacher badly needs to win a third season race in his Ferrari if he wants to make up at least some ground on the world champion Alonso, who has a runaway 23-point lead in his reliable and fast Renault.

Alonso has never made the podium at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, but his confidence is boosted by three straight wins for a season tally of five, with first career top spots in Spain, Monaco and Britain.

The Spaniard destroyed the opposition in Silverstone two weeks ago, beating Schumacher by a massive 13-second margin.

'Canada was one of the races on my 'to-do' list at the start of the season. I have never finished on the podium there, and that was one of my goals for 2006. So I will be really pushing to get a strong result there,' said Alonso.

'In the past few years, this has always been a very good circuit for the Renault car. I didn't finish in 2005 or 2004, but we were very quick in both races and I set the fastest lap in 2003. It will be a good track for us, I think,' he said.

Alonso has 74 points from eight of 18 races and with first or second place Sunday will beat Schumacher's half-season points record of 80 from 2004. A victory is worth 10 points and second place eight.

Alonso will take nothing for granted even though he has finished no worse than second this season and eyes a 15th straight podium to further close in on Schumacher's record 19 top-three finishes in a row.

'The season is not even at the halfway stage yet, and in Ferrari, we have very strong competition. Last year, we were fighting against teams who had reliability problems, but that won't happen with Ferrari. They will be there at every race and very strong in Canada as well,' Alonso said.

That's exactly what Schumacher has in mind when he gets into his car again after an enjoyable annual holiday with family and friends at an undisclosed North American location.

'We have every reason to be confident. Our car has fulfilled all expectations and we have continued to develop it.

'I don't want to make a precise prediction about the Montreal result. (But) we are ready and want a good result in Canada as well. I see no reason why we shouldn't achieve that,' he said.

Victory in Montreal would top his own record of seven wins at one race, a feat he has so far achieved in Canada and France. It would also continue the title fight which Schumacher is far from giving up.

'These fights and challenges are in my blood. You can't always win, but there is nothing nicer than to be engaged in such a fight. It is pure inspiration,' said Schumacher.

Out to spoil the show are once again McLaren-Mercedes who had the 2005 winner in Kimi Raikkonen and want a first season win.

Free practise on the demanding 4.361-kilometres is set for Friday and Saturday morning, qualifying is later Saturday and the 70-lap race over 305.270 kilometres on Sunday.