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Fernando Alonso kept alive his challenge for the drivers’ world championship with a near-flawless drive to an emotional and exciting victory in Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix, his maiden race on home soil for Ferrari.
The 29-year-old Spaniard, who had said he need a victory to maintain his bid for a third world title in his first season with the Italian ‘scarlet scuderia’, delivered a stirring performance to the delight of a notably sparse crowd in the grandstands of the old Autodromo Nazionale.
Alonso lost a place after starting from his 19th pole position, but fought back and aided by a dazzling Ferrari pit-stop was able to hold on to win ahead of second-placed defending champion Jenson Button of McLaren and Felipe Massa, in the second Ferrari. AFP
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Formula 1: Pole Sitter Fernando Alonso Wins Italian Grand Prix
Formula 1: Italian Grand Prix - Race Line-Up
Formula 1: Fernando Alonso Beats Jenson Button For Pole at Monza
F1 Standings Ahead of Italian Grand Prix
The Spaniard is now on 166 points, 21 points behind new leader Mark Webber—who overtook McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton at the top of the standings despite finishing down in sixth place.
Hamilton crashed out on the first lap, meaning he now trails the Australian Red Bull driver with just five races still to go.
Sebastian Vettel finished fourth despite early engine problems and a remarkable final lap 3.3-second pit-stop.
Nico Rosberg finished fifth for Mercedes, ahead of Webber. Nico Hulkenberg of Williams, Renault driver Robert Kubica, seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher and the second Williams of Rubens Barrichello completed the top 10. CNN International
Pos No Driver Team Time/Retired 1 8 Fernando Alonso Ferrari Winner 2 1 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes+2.9 secs 3 7 Felipe Massa Ferrari +4.2 secs 4 5 Sebastian VettelRBR-Renault +28.1 secs 5 4 Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP +29.9 secs 6 6 Mark Webber RBR-Renault +31.2 secs 7 10 Nico Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth +32.8 secs 8 11 Robert Kubica Renault +34.0 secs 9 3 Michael SchumacherMercedes GP +44.9 secs 10 9 Rubens BarrichelloWilliams-Cosworth+64.2 secs 11 16 Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari +65.0 secs 12 15 Vitantonio LiuzziForce India-Mercedes +66.1 secs 13 12 Vitaly Petrov Renault +78.9 secs 14 22 Pedro de la RosaBMW Sauber-Ferrari+1 Lap 15 17 Jaime AlguersuariSTR-Ferrari +1 Lap 16 14 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes+1 Lap 17 24 Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth +2 Laps 18 19 Heikki KovalainenLotus-Cosworth +2 Laps 19 20 Sakon Yamamoto HRT-Cosworth +2 Laps 20 25 Lucas di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth +3 Laps Ret 18 Jarno Trulli Lotus-Cosworth +7 Laps Ret 21 Bruno Senna HRT-Cosworth +42 Laps Ret 2 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes +53 Laps Ret 23 Kamui Kobayashi BMW Sauber-Ferrari +53 Laps
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