SINGAPORE -- In Formula One's first night race, Renault's Fernando Alonso captured the Singapore Grand Prix after starting 15th on the grid Sunday while McLaren's Lewis Hamilton extended his championship lead.
Alonso won for the 20th time in his career, his first victory since last year's Italian Grand Prix. Williams' Nico Rosberg was second, his best Grand Prix finish, and Hamilton was third.
Aloson was way back on the grid after a fuel pump failed during qualifying. On Sunday, the Spaniard benefited from an early safety car period that turned the race around.
"After qualifying, our hopes were gone already," Alonso said. "It was nearly over, but it shows that Formula One is unpredictable on Sunday."
Hamilton extended his championship lead to seven points because of a turn of events that cost title rival Felipe Massa of Ferrari any points. The Brazilian led early from the pole, but his race was ruined when he pitted after the end of a safety car period at the start of the 20th lap.
Massa pulled away from his stop prematurely, taking the fuel rig and hose with him up the pit lane. He knocked over one of his mechanics, who needed medical treatment, and almost collided with another car.
By the time the crew sprinted the length of pit lane and got the rig out of the car, Massa had dropped from the lead to 18th and last. He then incurred a drive-through penalty for an "unsafe release from a pit stop." Massa finished in 13th place.
|
|
| Renault's Fernando Alonso points his way to victory at the Singapore Grand Prix. (AP) |
With 15 of 18 races completed, Hamilton has 84 points in the driver standings, followed by Massa (77) and Robert Kubica of BMW Sauber (64).
Toyota's Timo Glock was fourth and Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel took fifth. In sixth was BMW's Nick Heidfeld, ahead of Red Bull's David Coulthard and Williams' Kazuki Nakajima.
Alonso has been considering leaving Renault during what was until Sunday a very disappointing year. Asked if the Singapore victory would keep him with the French team, Alonso said: "It's not changing the decision about next year. Renault will be my first priority because I feel at home in this team."
Hamilton showed little inclination in the closing laps to challenge Rosberg.
"I had no need to take any risks, both Ferraris were out of the points," Hamilton said. "(Leading by) seven points, I'm quite happy."
Massa appeared not to be at fault for the pit-lane accident. The light signaled he was clear to leave, even though the fuel rig was attached. After the race, the Brazilian sought out the person responsible for giving the green light, but to encourage rather than scold.
"We could have finished first and second, and things could have been different," Massa said. "We are all human beings, everybody can make mistakes. I am not the kind of guy who goes to the guy and fights with him.
"I go to the guy and gave him even more motivation, because we need him and we need everybody together for the last races of the season."
With only races in Japan, China and Brazil to come, Massa is now the outsider in the title showdown.
"Seven points is seven points but we have 30 in front of us and we have a quick car," he said. "That's the most important thing."
