• Malaysian Grand Prix 2005

Alonso awesome in Malaysia

Fernando Alonso leads the field in Malaysia © Sutton Images

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• Race:
• Malaysian Grand Prix

• Championship:
• FIA Formula One World Championship

• Drivers:
• Fernando Alonso
• |
• Nick Heidfeld
• |
• Jarno Trulli

• Teams:
• Renault
• |
• Toyota
• |
• Williams

• Circuits:
• Sepang International Circuit

Renault's second win of 2005 came thanks to a crushing display by Fernando Alonso in Malaysia in a race run in sweltering humidity.

"It was a very demanding race and I really felt how hard it had been on the podium afterwards," said Alonso. "It is a great feeling to win here though and I demonstrated that we are competitive on every type of circuit."

Alonso started from pole position and he led from the start with Jarno Trulli (Toyota) giving chase. Jenson Button had just taken fifth place from Kimi Raikkonen (McLaren) when his Honda's engine let go on lap three and he coasted to a smoky halt.

Alonso headed Trulli up front and edged away by a couple of tenths per lap. It all mounted up and he scored the win with Trulli second to give Toyota its first podium finish. Nick Heidfeld took third for Williams after Giancarlo Fisichella's Renault whacked a kerb early in the race and affected its handling.

McLaren suffered a disappointing day, too. Raikkonen was delayed by a puncture which dropped him to ninth, while Juan Pablo Montoya took fourth. The Colombian had suffered from a severe vibration for much of the race and his result was an excellent effort in the circumstances. However, he felt that the outright pace of the car had not been realised.

© ESPN EMEA Ltd.

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