Raikkonen speeds to victory over Alonso

Kimi Raikkonen ended Fernando Alonso’s winning streak yesterday when he claimed his and McLaren’s first win this season by triumphing comfortably in the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya.

Raikkonen dominated from start to finish as he wrecked local dreams of seeing a fourth successive win, and a first victory for a Spaniard on home soil, from the 23-year-old Renault driver Alonso.

But Alonso, the early-season championship leader, finished in a fighting second place to maintain his lead in the title race as he delivered his fifth podium finish in this year’s five races.

“The car was perfect, everything went well and I did not even have to push to top speed,” said Raikkonen afterwards. “I won easily and I am very happy for myself and all the other people who work so hard for the team. Now we have to start winning more. You can never be 100% sure about anything until you finish, but today we had perfect planning.”

Raikkonen, in his McLaren-Mercedes-Benz, blitzed the field with a demonstration of near-perfect pace and flawless driving as he took the lead from the fifth pole position of his career and pulled away virtually unchallenged to claim his first win this year and the third of his career.

His last win, and McLaren’s, came at the Belgian Grand Prix last year, and he added: “This helps us in the championship, but we need to hope that Renault have a few bad races and we need to keep winning.”

Alonso showed no disappointment at failing to maintain his remarkable winning streak and said: “I think this second place is like a victory for me here at home because eight points is good in the title race and everyone is happy.”

Italian Jarno Trulli, in a Toyota, finished third to consolidate his hold on second place behind Alonso in the title race. After five races, Alonso now has 44 points ahead of Trulli on 25 with Raikkonen up to third from ninth with 17 points.

Ralf Schumacher was fourth in the second Toyota, less than a second behind his team-mate, with Italian Giancarlo Fisichella fifth for Renault, after clocking the fastest lap on the final lap of the race.

Australian Mark Webber finished sixth for Williams ahead of McLaren driver Juan Pablo Montoya of Colombia and Briton David Coulthard, who maintained his good points-collection record, by finishing with one for eighth for the Red Bull team.

It was another disastrous day for Ferrari with defending and seven-times world champion German Michael Schumacher being forced to retire after suffering two punctures.

Equally insulting for Ferrari was the fact that Schumacher’s team-mate Brazilian Rubens Barrichello managed only a pointless ninth place and was among the cars lapped by flying Finn Raikkonen.

Raikkonen, who had started from his second successive pole position for McLaren, took the lead from the outset and when he pitted after 26 laps, he was able to stop for 8.6 seconds and retain his lead ahead of Alonso, but only by 0.4 seconds.

It mattered very little because Alonso pitted one lap later and when he rejoined he found himself behind not only the Finn, but also Michael Schumacher s Ferrari and the Renault of Fisichella.

When the order settled again, Raikkonen was out in front, clear of Fisichella by 25 seconds, with Alonso third, three seconds behind the Italian. Michael Schumacher was fourth and another Ferrari attack, as at Imola two weeks earlier, seemed unlikely.

By lap 43, Raikkonen’s lead was almost 30 seconds again, ahead of Alonso who benefited when his Renault team-mate Fisichella was forced to remain in the pits for 35 seconds, during which he had his front wing changed.

Alonso had found it difficult to pass his partner, but was now in clear air behind the Finn’s flying McLaren with Trulli third and the threat of Schumacher was ended, effectively, on lap 45 when he pitted unexpectedly to have his punctured left rear tyre changed and then on lap 47, he veered off the circuit at turn one with what seemed to be another puncture, this time to his front left tyre.

Both of the leading pair made fast and safe second pit-stops after 49 laps, but the order remained settled with Raikkonen racing away in front towards his first victory this year and the third of his career.