NUERBURG, Germany (AP) _ The rain that threw the European Grand
Prix into chaos at the start gave Fernando Alonso the edge he needed
to win at the end.
The two-time defending Formula One champion had the better setup
for the wet conditions during the final laps of the race Sunday, and
took advantage to squeeze past Felipe Massa of Ferrari on the
Nuerburgring circuit.
For Massa, finishing second eight seconds back left a ``bitter
taste'' after an unhelpful change of tires.
``I had driven a strong race right up until the last shower, then
once I had the rain tires on, I immediately felt vibrations that
made the car very unbalanced,'' Massa said. ``I couldn't keep the
pace, Fernando was faster.''
Alonso closed to within two points in the standings of McLaren
teammate Lewis Hamilton. The rookie was ninth, finishing out of the
top three for the first time in 10 races this season.
``It was exciting to drive and I hope to watch,'' Alonso said.
``The rain at the end helped us a lot. I think we were better in wet
conditions. Luckily, I had six laps to try to pass (Massa). I
enjoyed the race and the different conditions. I like the rain.''
Hamilton leads Alonso 70-68.
``This was an extraordinary weekend and a new experience for
me,'' said Hamilton, who started 10th on the grid following his
crash in qualifying Saturday.
Mark Webber was 1:05 back in third for Red Bull to equal his
career best, at Monaco in 2005.
Kimi Raikkonen started from the pole, but lost the lead in a
chaotic start, and pulled out in the 34th lap due to a hydraulics
problem with his Ferrari.
``I am very disappointed,'' said Raikkonen, who was coming off
two straight wins. ``I was in a good position, right behind Felipe
and Alonso, and the car was very quick and I was convinced I could
win.''
The rain that had halted the race for 30 minutes after four laps
returned with 11 laps left with Massa in the lead, ahead of Alonso.
Three laps later, it began to rain harder and both drivers went
in for wet-weather tires.
Alonso squeezed out Giancarlo Fisichella's Renault in the pit
lane to get into position to attack Massa.
A great battle ensued over the next two laps and, with less than
five laps remaining, the two touched wheels as Alonso pushed past
Massa and went on to record his 18th career F1 victory.
Alonso and Massa exchanged heated words before the victory
ceremony and Alonso said later he had apologized for touching
wheels.
Alonso crossed the line in two hours, six minutes, 26.358 seconds
over 60 laps on the 3.2-mile circuit.
Barely two laps into the race, a heavy shower drenched the track
and the safety car came out.
Hamilton, who only passed a medical checkup earlier Sunday to be
cleared to drive, was among the six cars that slid off into the
gravel before the race was stopped. With his engine still running,
Hamilton was lifted by a crane and put back on track before the red
flag came out.
When the race resumed, Hamilton was allowed to make up one lap
that he lost. The Briton was put at the back of the field, but on
the same number of laps.
Hamilton chose dry tires and was quickly lapped again by all
other 16 remaining cars, who were still on wet tires. However, the
weather defied predictions and stayed dry, and Hamilton began
clocking faster and faster laps at the back of the field. But his
gap proved too big at the end.
``I pushed as much as I could to catch up, but when you are
almost a lap down you really have to rely on other people's
misfortunes,'' Hamilton said.
By the 14th lap, the other cars were also on dry tires with Massa
in the lead, ahead of Alonso and Raikkonen.
Nick Heidfeld drove his BMW-Sauber into Ralf Schumacher's Toyota,
forcing Schumacher out of the race. Schumacher's older brother,
Michael _ the seven-time champion who retired at the end of the last
season _ had one of the curves names after him on the circuit before
the race.
Michael Schumacher won this race five times and presented the
winner's trophy.
