12/03/24
March 12, 2006
Alonso edges Schumacher at Bahrain: Spain's Fernando Alonso keeps his championship in place, just coming ahead of Ferrari's Michael Schumacher at the Grand Prix of Bahrain
SAKIR,Bahrain-In a rematch of what happened at last season’s San Marino Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso kept his world championship title alight as the Spaniard took the opening race of the 2006 formula one season by edging Seven time world title holder Michael Schumacher by two seconds, at the Grand Prix of Bahrain at Sakir. The Renault driver took the lead for good on the final pit stop with 18 laps in the race, coming out of the pit lane just ahead of the German. From then on, until the finish of the race, both drivers were within 1.8 seconds of one another, enough for Schumacher to make an attempt to pass with just six laps to go. Schumacher, who had began the day on pole, tying the legendary Aryton Senna by clinching his 56th top grid position, led on the opening laps of the race, keeping a gap of 1.4 seconds in front of Alonso. The Spaniard was the only driver to stay around Schumacher, as the seven time world champion’s Ferrari teammate, Felipe Massa, who attempted to block Alonso at the start and failed, lost control of his car on lap seven, trying to follow the world champion. The Brazilian finished out of the points, never to be a contender again to assist Schumacher. Kimi Raikkonen, who finished second in last year’s world championship, had a horrible crash in qualifying and had to start from the back of the grid. The Finn managed to quickly move up to third by lap 24. The most spectacular sight of the day was Jacques Villeneuve and his BMW engine, which failed and caught fire just outside the pit lane on lap 30. Luckily, the Canadian got out of the car and escaped a serious problem. Following Alonso, Schumacher and Raikkonen on the podium and finishing fourth was Jenson Button in his Honda. Fifth was Raikkonen’s McLaren teammate Juan Pablo Montoya, sixth and seventh respectively were the Williams pair of Mark Webber and his rookie partner, last year’s GP2 champ Nico Rosberg. Red Bull’s Christian Klien took the last point in eighth. Another rookie driver, American Scott Speed, becoming America’s first F1 driver in 13 years, took the same numbered place, one lap down from the leaders. “It was very difficult to catch Michael,” commented Alonso. “The second stop was due to luck and a good pit stop, plus it was nice for all the guys to let me pass without any blue flags shown. I knew I had Michael in the last few laps.” Concluded the Spaniard.
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