Alonso on the Brink after Japan Shock

by user Alex Holowczak

2006 Formula One Season
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Round Seventeen, Suzuka, 53 laps

Alonso needs only a point to be World Champion

With the Drivers’ Championship level on points, only a Michael Schumacher win and Fernando Alonso missing out on a points’ finish could decide the World Championship.

The weekend started in the damp conditions that were a problem the weekend before. But by the time the track dried out, Ferrari had dry tyres that were a second a lap faster than the Renault, playing right into Schumacher’s hands. Ferrari were dominant in Qualifying, with Schumacher being beaten to pole position only by his team-mate. Alonso could only finish fifth in qualifying.

On race day, it seemed Ferrari would run away from the pack, and that Alonso would have to try and limit the damage for the final race of the season.

In the opening stint, Ferrari led out front, with Felipe Massa allowing Schumacher to lead. Ralf Schumacher held up Alonso in his Toyota. Alonso did eventually get through, by which time Schumacher had a ten second lead over him.

Felipe Massa suffered a puncture and had to pit slightly early. He was held up by Nick Heidfeld when he left the pits, which saw Alonso overtake after his stop.

Schumacher and Alonso then broke clear of the pack, with Schumacher maintaining his lead of five seconds.

Disaster struck for him though on Lap 37, when Michael Schumacher had an engine problem, forcing him to retire from the Grand Prix. It was the first such incident for Schumacher since the 2001 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis.

With Schumacher’s retirement, Alonso was left to cruise to victory. Felipe Massa was second, and Giancarlo Fisichella was an emotional third. His best friend had died on the Thursday prior to the race.

Alonso led the World Championship by 10 points, and a points finish in Interlagos would make him the World Champion for the second successive year. Michael Schumacher has to win in Interlagos to have any chance of retiring as World Champion. Renault also pulled out a big lead in the Constructors’ Championship due to Michael Schumacher’s retirement.

Pos/Lap		Driver	Team	Time/Retired	Grid	Points
1		Fernando Alonso	Renault	1:23:53.413	5	10
2		Felipe Massa	Ferrari	+ 16.1	1	8
3		Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	+ 23.9	6	6
4		Jenson Button	Honda	+ 34.1	7	5
5		Kimi Raikkonen	McLaren-Mercedes	+ 43.5	11	4
6		Jarno Trulli	Toyota	+ 46.7	4	3
7		Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	+ 48.8	3	2
8		Nick Heidfeld	BMW-Sauber	+ 1:16.0	9	1
9		Robert Kubica	BMW-Sauber	+ 1:16.9	12
10		Nico Rosberg	Williams-Cosworth	+ 1 lap	10
11		Pedro de la Rosa	McLaren-Mercedes	+ 1 lap	13
12		Rubens Barrichello	Honda	+ 1 lap	8
13		Robert Doornbos	Red Bull Racing-Ferrari	+ 1 lap	18
14		Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso-Cosworth	+ 1 lap	15
15		Takuma Sato	Super Aguri-Honda	+ 1 lap	20
16		Tiago Monteiro	Midland-Toyota	+ 2 laps	21
17		Sakon Yamamoto	Super Aguri-Honda	+ 3 laps	22
18		Scott Speed	Toro Rosso-Cosworth	+ 5 laps	19
39		Mark Webber	Williams-Cosworth	Accident	14
36		Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Engine	2
35		David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing-Ferrari	Gearbox	17
20		Christijan Albers	Midland-Toyota	Driveshaft	16

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F1 on ArmchairGM:-

• 2006 Drivers' Championship Standings
• 2006 Constructors' Championship Standings
• 2006 Japanese Grand Prix Video - Will be available later
• Suzuka - The Map of the Track
• Formula One Encyclopedia
• Other race reports available by clicking the flags on top of the page

Alex HolowczakHall of Famer

1161 days ago

Score 0

This spoilt the climax somehat, and Alonso should now become World Champion. Still, anything is possible, and if Alonso DNFs, Schumacher can still win the title by virtue of tieing on points, but having more race wins.

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Alex HolowczakHall of Famer

1161 days ago

Score 0

* somewhat

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