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Alonso wins Malaysian GP; Schumacher 7th
Fernando Alonso is making the most of Michael Schumacher's struggle with his old Ferrari.
Alonso won the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday in 1 hour, 31 minute, 33.736 seconds to give Renault its second straight victory. He was 24.3 seconds ahead of Jarno Trulli, who powered Toyota to its first top-three finish in Formula One. Nick Heidfeld of Williams-BMW was third. Schumacher, who completed a fifth straight drivers' championship last year by winning 13 of 18 races, was seventh. Still, that's two points in the standings and an improvement from the season opener in Australia, where Schumacher stopped after colliding with Heidfeld. Alonso said Renault needs to capitalize while Ferrari is running a modified version of its 2004 cars. Ferrari's F2005 is still being tested and might be introduced for the next event in Bahrain on April 3 before the 19-race series heads to Europe. "In these days that Ferrari is not so strong, we need to be in the first position and take the points," Alonso said. Alonso improved two places from Melbourne, giving Renault 26 points in the constructors' championship. The 23-year-old driver is the first Spaniard to lead the F1 drivers' standings. "It's a fantastic feeling," said Alonso, who has 16 points from a win and a third place. His only previous victory was the Hungarian GP last year when he became the youngest winner in F1. He's six points ahead of Renault teammate Giancarlo Fisichella, who won in Australia two weeks ago. Fisichella was cautioned by stewards Sunday after crashing on the 37th lap with Williams driver Mark Webber in a duel for third place. Juan Pablo Montoya finished fourth for McLaren, Ralf Schumacher was fifth in the other Toyota and Red Bull again exceeded expectations with David Coulthard finishing sixth and Christian Klien eighth. Toyota jumped to second in the standings (12 points) and Red Bull to third (11). All the new engine, tire and fuel rules were put to the test at searing Sepang. The track temperature peaked at 127 degrees at the start and the air temperature rose above 100. Making vision more difficult, thick gray clouds hung over the circuit from a forest fire. Trulli, who left Renault late last season to join Toyota, started beside Alonso on the front of the grid and managed his race well. He remained clear of the danger zone behind him and gave the Japanese automaker its first top-three finish since joining F1 in 2002. "I had a pretty good start. I was competitive," he said. "I think I was pretty easy in second position -- it's fantastic to bring the first podium finish for Toyota." Montoya's teammate, Kimi Raikkonen, did well to recover and finish ninth after shredding the tire on his right rear wheel on the 24th lap. He slipped back in the field after he'd limped back to the pits on three tires and a rim. Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello, second in the 2004 championship and second in Melbourne, never challenged for the lead and retired on the 50th lap, one of the seven cars that failed to finish. Fisichella went out on the 38th lap when he locked the brakes and skidded his Renault into and over Webber's car as the Australian was challenging for third place. Webber jumped from the cockpit and waved both arms in frustration. Race stewards said there will be an investigation.
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