2006 Spanish Grand Prix

2006 Spanish Grand Prix
Date	May 14, 2006
Round	6
Track	Catalunya
Laps	66
Weather	Hot & Sunny
Pole Position
Driver	Fernando Alonso
Time	1:14.648
Fastest Lap
Driver	Felipe Massa
Time	1:16.648

After the European Grand Prix, the Spanish Grand Prix was Michael Schumacher's chance to make further inroads into the lead of Fernando Alonso in the World Championship. Catalunya was a favourite track of Schumacher.

Qualifying 1 went badly for David Coulthard. he was unable to set a time, and was eliminated. Juan Pablo Montoya also went out in Qualifying 2, and was well down the grid for McLaren.

The rest of qualifying was a procession for Renault. Michael Schumacher was the only car that could come near the two Renault's, and Fernando Alonso easily wandered to pole.

The race itself was no more thrilling. The Renault's super start system yet again gave them the go off the line, and they pulled away comfortably.

As Alonso was coasting to victory, Giancarlo Fisichella was having more trouble. He was unable to match Alonso's pace, and soon Michael Schumacher overtook him to take second place.

Fisichella held off Felipe Massa towards the end, but Schumacher was the key car that had got infront of him.

It was a very easy victory for Alonso, who won his home Grand Prix for the first time. Behind the two Renault's and [[Ferrari]'s, only Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button were on the same lap.

Alonso now had a fifteen point advantage over Michael Schumacher, and they had gone through two of each other's home races even, 18 points each. Importantly however, after a bad start, it showed that the Ferrari was in with a chance of beating Renault, but the points system meant consistancy with the odd win would give the title to Alonso.

[edit] Results

Rank	Driver	Constructor	Laps	Time/Retired	Grid	Points
1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	66	1:26:21.759	1	10
2	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	66	+18.5 sec	3	8
3	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	66	+ 23.9 sec	2	6
4	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	66	+ 29.8 sec	4	5
5	Kimi Raikkonen	McLaren	66	+56.8 sec	9	4
6	Jenson Button	Honda	66	+ 58.3 sec	8	3
7	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	65	+1 lap	5	2
8	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	65	+1 lap	10	1
9	Mark Webber	Williams	65	+1 lap	11
10	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	65	+1 lap	7
11	Nico Rosberg	Williams	65	+1 lap	13
12	Jacques Villeneuve	BMW Sauber	65	+1 lap	22
13	Christian Klien	Red Bull	65	+1 lap	14
14	David Coulthard	Red Bull	65	+1 lap	21
15	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	63	+Hydraulics	15
16	Tiago Monteiro	Midland	63	+3 laps	17
17	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	62	+4 laps	19
18	Christijan Albers	Midland	48	+Broken wing	18
19	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	47	+Engine	16
20	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	31	+Electronics	6
21	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren	17	+Spin	12
22	Franck Montagny	Super Aguri	10	+Driveshaft	20
23	[[]]	[[]]		+
24	[[]]	[[]]		+
25	[[]]	[[]]		+
26	[[]]	[[]]		+

2006 Formula One Season
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Spanish Grand Prix
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Tracks: Catalunya • Jarama • Jerez • Lasarte • Montjuich Park • Pedrables