Alonso wins chaotic European Grand Prix

Sports / Motor Racing

Alonso wins chaotic European Grand Prix

(AP)
Updated: 2007-07-23 08:40

NUERBURG, Germany - The rain that threw the European Grand Prix into
chaos at the start gave Fernando Alonso the edge he needed to win at the
end.

The two-time defending Formula One champion had the better setup for the
wet conditions during the final laps of the race Sunday, and took
advantage to squeeze past Felipe Massa of Ferrari on the Nuerburgring
circuit.

Spanish McLaren Mercedes Formula One driver Fernando Alonso kisses his
trophy after winning the European Formula One Grand Prix at the
Nuerburgring, Germany, racetrack, Sunday, July 22, 2007.[AP]

For Massa, finishing second 8 seconds back left a "bitter taste" after an
unhelpful change of tires.

"I had driven a strong race right up until the last shower, then once I
had the rain tires on, I immediately felt vibrations that made the car
very unbalanced," Massa said. "I couldn't keep the pace, Fernando was
faster."

Alonso closed to within two points in the standings of McLaren teammate
Lewis Hamilton. The rookie was ninth, finishing out of the top three for
the first time in 10 races this season.

"It was exciting to drive and I hope to watch," Alonso said. "The rain at
the end helped us a lot. I think we were better in wet conditions.
Luckily, I had six laps to try to pass (Massa). I enjoyed the race and
the different conditions. I like the rain."

Hamilton leads Alonso 70-68.

"This was an extraordinary weekend and a new experience for me," said
Hamilton, who started 10th on the grid following his crash in qualifying
Saturday.

Mark Webber was 1:05 back in third for Red Bull to equal his career best,
at Monaco in 2005.

Kimi Raikkonen started from the pole, but lost the lead in a chaotic
start, and pulled out in the 34th lap due to a hydraulics problem with
his Ferrari.

"I am very disappointed," said Raikkonen, who was coming off two straight
wins. "I was in a good position, right behind Felipe and Alonso, and the
car was very quick and I was convinced I could win."

The rain that had halted the race for 30 minutes after four laps returned
with 11 laps left with Massa in the lead, ahead of Alonso.

Three laps later, it began to rain harder and both drivers went in for
wet-weather tires.

Alonso squeezed out Giancarlo Fisichella's Renault in the pit lane to get
into position to attack Massa.

A great battle ensued over the next two laps and, with less than five
laps remaining, the two touched wheels as Alonso pushed past Massa and
went on to record his 18th career F1 victory.

Alonso and Massa exchanged heated words before the victory ceremony and
Alonso said later he had apologized for touching wheels.

Alonso crossed the line in 2 hours, 6 minutes, 26.358 seconds over 60
laps on the 3.2-mile circuit.

Barely two laps into the race, a heavy shower drenched the track and the
safety car came out.

Hamilton, who only passed a medical checkup earlier Sunday to be cleared
to drive, was among the six cars that slid off into the gravel before the
race was stopped. With his engine still running, Hamilton was lifted by a
crane and put back on track before the red flag came out.

When the race resumed, Hamilton was allowed to make up one lap that he
lost. The Briton was put at the back of the field, but on the same number
of laps.

Hamilton chose dry tires and was quickly lapped again by all other 16
remaining cars, who were still on wet tires. However, the weather defied
predictions and stayed dry, and Hamilton began clocking faster and faster
laps at the back of the field. But his gap proved too big at the end.

"I pushed as much as I could to catch up, but when you are almost a lap
down you really have to rely on other people's misfortunes," Hamilton
said.

By the 14th lap, the other cars were also on dry tires with Massa in the
lead, ahead of Alonso and Raikkonen.

Nick Heidfeld drove his BMW-Sauber into Ralf Schumacher's Toyota, forcing
Schumacher out of the race. Schumacher's older brother, Michael - the
seven-time champion who retired at the end of the last season - had one
of the curves names after him on the circuit before the race.

Michael Schumacher won this race five times and presented the winner's
trophy.

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