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Alonso wins Chinese GP to seal title for Renault
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-10-17 08:41
SHANGHAI, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Spaniard Fernando Alonso won the Chinese Grand
Prix on Sunday to hand Renault their first Formula One constructor's title on
top of the driver's championship he took last month.
Formula One drivers
pose for a team photo before the start of the Chinese Grand Prix in
Shanghai October 16, 2005. Front row (L-R) Juan Pablo Montoya, Kimi
Raikkonen, Giancarlo Fisichella, Fernando Alonso, Michael Schumacher and
Rubens Barrichello. Middle row (L-R) David Coulthard, Christian Klein,
Jenson Button, Takuma Sato, Jarno Trulli, Antonio Pizzonia and Mark
Webber. Back row (L-R) Narain Karthikeyan, Tiago Monteiro, Christijan
Albers, Robert Doornbos, Jacques Villeneuve and Felipe Massa. Missing are
Ralf Schumacher and Nick Heidfeld.
[Reuters] |
McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen finished
second, the Mercedes-powered team's hopes draining away when Colombian Juan
Pablo Montoya hit a loose manhole cover and retired less than halfway through
the race.
Renault finished the longest season in the sport's history, 19 races, with
191 points to McLaren's 182.
The victory was the seventh of a phenomenal season for the 24-year-old
Alonso, who became the sport's youngest champion in Brazil last month, allowing
him to equal Raikkonen's haul of victories.
"For the team it has been a fantastic season," said the Spaniard, who soaked
a beaming team boss Flavio Briatore with champagne on the podium.
"Winning the constructors' was not crucial but quite important for the team
for their motivation for next year.
"I am a little bit frustrated that I only won seven races...I think the car
had the potential to win 10 or 11."
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