Motor: Champion stands tall as the challengers fall

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2006
Motor: Champion stands tall as the challengers fall

By Todd Balym

MELBOURNE, April 2 AAP - Renault's world champion Fernando Alonso emerged from a field
of broken dreams at Albert Park today to claim his first Australian Grand Prix and take
a firm grip on his second world title.

The Spaniard dominated the 57-lap incident filled race as Australia's Mark Webber and
Britain's Jenson Button both failed to finish after being on the verge of breakthrough
performances.

A crowd of 103,000 spectators, the smallest in three years but reasonable in the wake
of the Commonwealth Games and competing with the AFL season kick off, were filled with
premature hope Webber could snare a home victory after taking the lead on lap 21.

But two laps later Webber's temperamental Williams crawled to a halt with a gearbox
problem ending his "straight forward" podium opportunity and sinking the dreams of an
Australian champion.

Pole sitter Button's race ended with a fireball billowing from the tail of his Honda
after his engine exploded going onto the home straight and he skidded to a halt just 50m
from the finish line.

The Briton started the day with a burning ambition to win his first Grand Prix in 103
starts, but those hopes were put on ice with cold tyres sliding him back through the pack
and out of contention.

Former world champion Michael Schumacher smashed heavily into the cement wall along
the main straight in one of several memorable crashes as former world champion Ferrari
endured its worst ever Australian visit.

Despite the constant drama unfolding around him Alonso remained composed to pilot his
Renault home for his second win of the year ahead of Finland's Kimi Raikkonen (McLaren)
and German Ralf Schumacher (Toyota).

The 24-year-old leads the F1 championship on 28 points, double his teammate Giancarlo
Fisichella who sits second.

AAP tb/gjw

KEYWORD: MOTOR PRIX FRONTER

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