By Elmar Dreher Oct 22, 2006, 20:38 GMT
Sao Paolo, Brazil - Fernando Alonso in a Renault sealed his second Formula One drivers' title in succession Sunday when he finished second in the Brazilian Grand Prix behind Felipe Massa with Honda's Jenson Button third.
Spanish Formula One driver Fernando Alonso of Renault F1 team celebrates after the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at the racetrack in Interlagos near Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday 22 October 2006. EPA/Gero Breloer
The Ferrari driver controlled the race from pole position to become the first Brazilian to win the Sao Paolo race since the legendary Ayrton Senna in 1993 but all eyes were on the battle between Michael Schumacher and Alonso for the title.
Schumacher, racing in his final GP before retiring, needed to win and for Alonso to finish outside the points to snatch the title from the Spaniard but the Ferrari driver suffered a puncture on lap nine although he fought back to eventually finished fourth.
Alonso finishes with 134 points from 18 races, followed by Schumacher on 121 with Massa third on 80 points.
Renault also clinched a second successive constructors' title with 205 points, four ahead of Ferrari, who needed a 1-2 finish from Schumacher and Massa to snatch it from the French team.
'It's been a fantastic weekend and a very well run race,' said Alonso. 'The important thing today was to become champion for the second successive time. We did it.'
Alonso also said he felt his two drivers' titles were of more value because of the challenge of trying to beat a legend like Schumacher.
'I think it was good to fight with him. I always said to win a championship with Michael in the field had more value than when he retired,' said Alonso.
Massa started the race from pole position in his home GP, which saw Nico Rosberg in a Williams crash out on the first lap resulting in the safety car coming out.
When it left the track at the start of lap six Schumacher, who started from 10th on the grid, found himself in sixth place behind Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella.
But no sooner had Schumacher passed Fisichella than he suffered a puncture. The German limped back to pits but returned in last place, thus ensuring Alonso could relax, knowing that for all intents and purposes the title was his.
'When Michael had the trouble with the tyres, we immediately turned down the revs,' he admitted.
The Spaniard managed to leapfrog Kimi Raikkonen during the first set of pit stops and once Raikkonen's McLaren-Mercedes teammate Pedro de la Rosa pitted with 36 laps remaining Alonso found himself second behind Massa but with Button on his tail.
However, Button was unable to mount a challenge as Alonso drove well within himself for the rest of the race, pitting once more with 17 laps remaining to cruise home in second place and successfully defend his title before moving on to drive with McLaren in 2007.
Seven-time champion Schumacher showed why he holds virtually every record in F1, making a charge from last and overtaking Fisichella and his successor at Ferrari, Raikkonen, in the closing laps to finish fourth.
'I would have preferred to finish on the podium but it wasn't to be,' said Schumacher who added that he didn't feel sad that his career was over.
'If I was sad, I wouldn't have made the decision (to retire),' he said.
The 37-year-old also ruled out any possible comeback saying he'd definitely be watching the 2007 F1 season.
Massa said he would miss his teammate, who he said always had faith in him and and wanted him in the Ferrari team.
'I will miss him because he is just a fantastic person,' he said before enjoying the moment of winning his home GP.
'It's just amazing isn't it. For me to be here in front of my own people,' he said. 'It's just the best day in my life.'
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