Elated Alonso claims second title triumph

LOCAL hero Felipe Massa sent his compatriots into raptures on Sunday when he won the Brazilian Grand Prix ahead of Fernando Alonso, who finished second to confirm his second drivers’ world title.

In a dramatic and incident-filled race, Massa was supreme for Ferrari but his retiring teammate Michael Schumacher produced the most heroic drive.

He started 10th, reached fifth briefly, suffered a puncture and then from the back of the field stormed through to finish fourth with one of the greatest drives of his remarkable career.

Massa won, 25-year-old Spaniard Alonso was second for Renault with Briton Jenson Button third for Honda.

And, the new world champion Fernando Alonso paid homage to rival Michael Schumacher following the German’s final race.

Schumacher, in the final race of his career, showed all his grit and determination to go from last to fourth after a ninth-lap puncture crippled his challenge for victory.

Alonso said it had been an honour racing against Schumacher.

“It has been very close and I think it is good to fight with him,” said Alonso. “I always said that to become champion when Michael is still on track gives it more value.

“I was extremely lucky to win the world championships when he races, I think we all wish him the best for his new life with his family. It has been pleasure for us to race with him.”

Schumacher, 10 points behind Alonso but with seven wins each, had needed one last victory to have any hope of an unprecedented eighth title while the Spaniard required only a single point from his last race with Renault before joining McLaren.

Renault team boss Flavio Briatore also paid tribute to Schumacher following his amazing drive at Interlagos.

“I think today we have to show great respect for Michael Schumacher, because what he’s done today will go down in the history of F1,” Briatore said. “He was flying. I don’t know what he had but he was flying.

“We’ve won a difficult championship against an extremely difficult rival, Ferrari, so congratulations to them too for keeping the title open.”

The outcome meant Alonso retained his title and Renault won the constructors’ championship on a day when a huge crowd at Interlagos celebrated seeing a Brazilian win on home soil for the first time since 1993 when Ayrton Senna won.

The race was preceded by a ceremony on the grid in which football legend Pele presented Schumacher with a special trophy to mark his retirement.

The Brazilian fans gave the German driver a warm reception and wild applause to show their appreciation of his efforts in the years since their own great hero Ayrton Senna died in 1994.

When the race started Massa made a good fast start and pulled away as Schumacher stormed from 10th to seventh by the end of an incident-filled opening lap which saw the two Williams collide and retire.

Schumacher moved up to sixth by passing Barrichello at the end of the straight and so was sixth as the cars slowed in procession behind the safety car for five laps.

Then, he began another charge which led him, at the end of lap eight, to attack Fisichella on the straight and pull past him as they threw their cars left into the downhill Senna S curves.

In the close battle that enthralled the crowd, Schumacher edged ahead but collected a puncture and lost control of his car briefly. This allowed Fisichella to regain his place, but left the seven-time champion to slow down and bring his car back to the pits with a flat left-rear tyre.

He pitted in last position, taking new tyres and fuel, and rejoined at the back of the field led by Massa, the local boy thrilling his home city fans.

He soon built up a commanding lead of more than nine seconds ahead of Raikkonen while behind him Italian Jarno Trulli retired in his Toyota and then Scotsman David Coulthard. Soon they were joined by Ralf Schumacher. It was reported that both suffered from suspension failure.

All of this left Schumacher running in 17th and last position as Massa pulled away at the front followed by Raikkonen, Alonso and Fisichella. To all intents and purposes, barring a miracle, it looked as if Renault and their star driver were within easy reach of both championships.

Massa continued to reel off fastest laps at the front, while Alonso ran just two seconds behind Raikkonen and three ahead of Fisichella.

In the end, Alonso held on for second and the title, while Schumacher’s dramatic day eventually saw him finish fourth in his final Grand Prix with a drive that befitted a seven-time champion.