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F1: Alonso All But Clinches Title with Suzuka Win
Written by: Kevin Krefting   
10/07/2006
Suzuka, Japan
 


Though his points edge is comfortable, Alonso will still have to make sure he finishes the race in Brazil... (LAT Photo) ยป More Photos

Michael Schumacher's renowned luck didn't manifest itself in what could go into history as the defining moment of the 2006 Formula 1 season, as a rare Ferrari engine failure while leading the Japanese Grand Prix threw the race win and possibly the title on the hands of Renault's Fernando Alonso.

The Suzuka race was going by the book for the seven-time world champion until that fatal moment on the 36th lap. Starting on the outside pole alongside teammate Felipe Massa, Schuey kept his spot after an uneventful start that saw the Brazilian hold on to his P1 while Alonso, fifth on the grid, gained a single position from Jarno Trulli's Toyota, tucking in behind Ralf Schumacher in the other Japanese car.

Fearing a repetition of the Turkey race last month, when an ill-timed safety car allowed Alonso to sneak in between polesitter Massa and Schumacher, Ferrari's strategists wasted no time in ordering the German to take the lead, which he did without resistance from his teammate already on the second lap. Honda's Jenson Button, Giancarlo Fisichella in the second Renault and BMW's Nick Heidfeld filled the remaining points-paying positions in the race's early stages. Eighth
on the grid, Rubens Barrichello was the only casualty of the race's start, having to come in for a new nose on his Honda on lap two.

The order wasn't shuffled until lap 13, when Trulli gave away that Toyota's second-row sweep owed perhaps more to an ultra-light fuel strategy than an alleged superiority of Bridgestone tires over Japanese rubber. Almost simultaneously, his teammate Ralf Schumacher succumbed to Alonso's attacks, the Spaniard moving up to third with a bold move after having kept the Ferraris' pace in check - by then, Alonso trailed Schumacher by only five seconds.

Due to a puncture, Ferrari brought Massa in earlier than planned for his first stop on lap 14, a decision that would cost the Brazilian as he got stuck behind Heidfeld upon his return to the track. As a result, Alonso emerged ahead of the Scuderia's number two man following his own stop two laps later.

After Schumacher pitted on lap 18 without losing the lead, Alonso threatened to mount an attempt at the German's lead, but any lowering of the Spaniard's lap times was promptly responded by Schuey, and the gap between the two title contenders remained stable at circa five seconds.
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