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Raikkonen wins Japanese Grand Prix thriller
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-10-09 16:02
SUZUKA, Japan, Oct 9 (Reuters) - McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen charged from 17th
place on the starting grid to seize victory on the last lap of a thrilling
Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday.
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| McLaren's Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland raises his
trophy on the victory podium after winning the Japanese Grand Prix at the
Suzuka Circuit in central Japan October 9, 2005. At left is Renault's
Giancarlo Fisichella, who finished second, and at right is his Renault
team mate Fernando Alonso of Spain in third place.
[Reuters] | Yet, on another bittersweet afternoon for his team, the Finn's heroics failed
to prevent rivals Renault from recapturing the lead in the Formula One
constructors' championship with one race remaining.
Renault took second and third place with Italian Giancarlo Fisichella and
newly-crowned champion Fernando Alonso respectively to move two points clear of
McLaren after starting the day two points behind.
Alonso has 123 points to Raikkonen's 104 but the Finn now has seven victories
to the Spaniard's six. Renault have 176 to McLaren's 174.
Australian Mark Webber was fourth in a Williams, ahead of Briton Jenson
Button for BAR and compatriot David Coulthard in a Red Bull.
Ferrari's seven-times champion Michael Schumacher was seventh with brother
Ralf, who started on pole for Toyota, taking the final point.
McLaren's sixth win in a row followed a nail-biting finale with 'The Iceman'
emerging from his final pitstop to hunt down Fisichella's Renault and power past
on the last lap.
"It was a much more difficult win than any of my others but its nicer when
you really have to fight for it," said Raikkonen of a victory that ended
Ferrari's run of five in a row at Suzuka. "It was one of the best for sure."
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