Bullfighters are undeniably brave, but frequently foolhardy, and similar sentiments could be levelled at
Fernando Alonso after an ambitious, if flawed, effort to seize control of the Spanish Grand Prix cost him a shot at victory on the opening lap.
The local favourite attempted to pass polesitter
Felipe Massa around the outside of turn one after slipstreaming the Brazilian down the straight, but cut the
Ferrari off at the apex, with the expected result that the pair made contact. Alonso came off worst, Massa riding the kerb straight into the side of the Mclaren after being left with nowhere else to go. Alonso duly speared across the gravel trap, narrowly avoiding
Kimi Raikkonen as he rejoined on the far side, now fourth.
As had been the case in Bahrain last time out, the two expected team leaders were again playing second fiddle to their junior partners, as
Lewis Hamilton took advantage of Alonso's error, having already passed Raikkonen on the drag from the lights. The BMWs also came close to making the most from the melee, with
Robert Kubica and
Nick Heidfeld just being out-gunned as Alonso floored then throttle after getting the
McLaren straight.
The lack of obvious passing places at the Circuit de Catalunya prompted more than one feint and move, with
Giancarlo Fisichella finding himself touching the dirt as he attempted to make up places, rejoining just in time to get embroiled in the midfield scrap enveloping the Hondas,
Takuma Sato,
Ralf Schumacher and Alex Wurz. Although the
Renault survived jinking between rivals, Schumacher and Wurz were not, the former forced to jump on the brakes when Sato checked up and Wurz being left with nowhere to go but into the back of the
Toyota.
The Austrian's front suspension was a victim of the clash, which saw Wurz rear up in the air, but Schumacher's nose also needed attention, capping a bad opening for Toyota, which had had to wheel
Jarno Trulli off the sixth grid spot when his fuel pressure dropped, stalling the engine.
