04/24/24
May 07, 2006
Schuey pulls second straight win at the Nurburgring: Michael Schumacher proves that Imola was not a fluke as the seven times world champion beats rival Fernando Alonso to win by seconds on his home ground.--By Mark Gero
NURBURG, Germany- Michael Schumacher proved to his home fans and to many critics that his recent win at the Ferrari team’s home race two weeks ago in Imola was no fluke, as the seven times world champion won his second grand prix race in a row at the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring with a six second win over F1 rival Fernando Alonso. Schumacher’s Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa finished his best race of his career with third. Schumacher and his Spanish rival traded positions early in the race, as the first three laps began with the only safety car period in the race, following Toro Rosso’s Vitantonio Luzzi’s spun in the middle of the track. Luzzi suffered a tire coming off the rim, when the Italian struck Red Bull’s David Coulthard at the first corner of the track. Both Luzzi and the Scot exited the race laps later. Kimi Raikkonen had a brief lead on lap 23 before the Finn had to pit, leaving Alonso and Schumacher to take over the race in the first two positions. The current world champion held the German at bay by no more than 1.3 seconds for many laps, before Alonso had to pit 23 laps near the end of the race. By then, it was time for Schumcher to act, as the Ferrari number one found the speed meter and a clear track to set the fastest lap of the race and remained out onto the track by increasing his lead over Alonso by 14 seconds before having to come in for fuel. The idea worked perfectly as Schumacher managed to record a quick pit stop of 6.8 seconds to keep himself out in front of Alonso by six seconds in second position. With Raikkonen now in front for the second time in the race, the Finn knew that it would not be for long as Raikkonen still had one more stop left. When the time did come, Schumacher and Alonso took the first two spots and Raikkonen came out of the pits after his stop in fourth, realizing that a chance for the podium had to come out with a fight. As Alonso realized that it was too late to challenge Schumacher, the Spaniard slowed his pace down , and considering it was no threat to the position that he had, it was not a good sign for Massa, who had Raikkonen right behind him. But the Brazilian kept his cool and managed to just get across the finish. Besides the top four, Rubens Barrichello took his first points finish with his new Honda team in fifth; while Giancarlo Fisichella put more constructor points for Renault with his sixth place position, and Williams’s rookie Nico Rosberg took seventh after starting from last position. Jacques Villeneuve gave his BMW Sauber team the last point’s position in eighth. “It was no surprise that we were more competitive in the race, but it was tricky in some areas because of the wind. However, it was quite a surprise in itself.” Commented Schumacher after the race. “The main thing then was that we needed be out in front.”
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