Fuente: © Renault F1 Team (English)
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FORMULA 1 - RENAULT: Indianapolis, Race: Fisi on the podium as...

Giancarlo Fisichella salvaged a superb podium in today’s US Grand Prix as Ferrari swept to their first 1-2 of the 2006 season.

/noticias.info/ Michael Schumacher has taken victory in today’s US Grand Prix, taking the chequered flag eight seconds ahead of his Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa. Giancarlo Fisichella was the closest challenger to the Ferrari resurgence and took a well deserved podium, as Jarno Trulli finished an improbable and spectacular fourth after starting the race from the pits. World Championship leader Fernando Alonso could only manage fifth in a disappointing race for the Spaniard, as Rubens Barrichello came home sixth, David Coulthard seventh and Tonio Liuzzi a brilliant eighth to take the first points in the life of the Toro Rosso team.

At the start, polesitter Schumacher got off to a good start, but it was his team-mate Felipe Massa who made the best start of all to lead the field into Turn 1. Fernando Alonso however had also had a belting start and powered past Giancarlo into the first turn, almost taking Schumacher’s second position as he went. The German held on to his spot however while behind them all hell broke loose.

Juan Pablo Montoya appeared to slam into the back of his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen, sparking off a chain reaction which saw Nick Heidfeld barrel roll out in spectacular fashion, Jenson Button spin, and Scott Speed get caught in the melee. In total seven cars went out on the spot as a number of other cars collided behind at the first corner.

Raikkonen, Montoya, Heidfeld and Speed were out on the spot, with Montagny, Klien and Webber also out before even making it to Turn 2. Jenson Button would continue for a few laps but would ultimately retire after the damage he sustained in the shunt.

After five laps behind the safety car the race got going again and Massa led comfortably from Schumacher, Alonso, Fisichella, Barrichello, Villeneuve, Ralf Schumacher and Nico Rosberg. Down the start-finish straight, Ralf was past Villeneuve and up into sixth while Takuma Sato flew into a Midland to put both out at the first turn.

The pace of the Toyotas was evident as Ralf harried Barrichello and Jarno Trulli, having started from the pits, moved up to ninth by passing Coulthard after ten laps, and Rosberg just a few laps later. By now Fernando’s pace was looking to be a concern as a train started to form behind him.

But on lap 13 Giancarlo breezed past his team-mate down the main straight. The Italian went on to set the fastest lap of the race at that point to pull out a gap and start t have a go at the leading Ferraris.

The number of runners was cut even further when Villeneuve’s BMW gave up the ghost with a third of the race gone, as the drivers prepared to make their first stops. Barrichello was the first man in, and with 44 laps to go both Schumacher and Giancarlo made their first stops. Felipe Massa was in next time by, and the race leader came out behind his team-mate. From there it was game over as far as the first two positions were concerned, as with Fernando struggling, Ferrari would be looking to maximise the potential points haul for their main championship protagonist, Schumacher.

Fernando was leading the race, but just moments later he came in too. A short stop later and he was out, in fifth place, but a long way behind Giancarlo in fourth.

Jarno Trulli was currently holding third place, but at the half way point made his one and only stop of the race. He pitted at the same time as Tonio Liuzzi who had been fighting hard on the back of the battle between Nico Rosberg and David Coulthard for the last point in eighth place. Rosberg pitted a few laps later, but emerged ahead of Liuzzi, and despite staying out longer than looked sensible, Coulthrd took his sole stop and emerged ahead of both, taking eighth place and pulling away from the Williams.

Ralf was now catching Fernando, but Trulli in fifth didn’t need to stop again and was looking good for a possible podium depending on how Giancarlo’s final pitstop went. The leaders came in, with Massa the first, and then Giancarlo. The Italian had a great stop and emerged with clear air between himself and Trulli. Giancarlo looked to have the final podium spot all tied up.

Schumacher came in with 20 laps to go and emerged with his lead in tact. Two laps later Fernando was in, but a slow stop relegated him to sixth, behind both Toyotas.

Meanwhile the battle for eighth was still on. Liuzzi slipstreamed Rosberg down the straight and pulled a perfect move on the German, who immediately tried to retake the position with a spectacular slice across and out of the Italian’s slipstream. But Liuzzi held his ground and took ninth. The consequences of this move became apparent just moments later as Ralf pulled his Toyota into the pits and out of the race… Liuzzi’s ninth was now eighth and Toro Rosso were on for their first ever F1 points.

More importantly for the championship, Fernando gained a point too.

The laps wore down, and Schumacher crossed the finish line to record a great success for Ferrari at Indianapolis, leading home their first 1-2 of the season as Massa recorded his best ever F1 finish. Giancarlo came home third to the delight of the Renault F1 Team, and on a weekend of damage limitation, Fernando had managed to salvage four points from a potential disaster.

As we move into the final half of the season, the battle for the championship looks to be back on. It looks like it’s going to be a thrilling fight. notas_de_prensa_archivo