Alonso returned to the top ten on lap 40, passing the hobbled Wurz, but was a long way from being a threat to his team-mate, who was again building a comfortable advantage out front. Heidfeld continued to give chase, from Webber - who had used solid tactics to recover from his early spin - Massa, Fisichella, Sato, Raikkonen, Kovalainen, Albers and Alonso, the field still mixed up by wildly differing strategies.
Heidfeld and Hamilton again started the second round of stops a lap apart, but the Briton already had enough in hand over third-placed Webber to rejoin in front of the field, seemingly setting sail for the run to the flag, despite having to run the less competitive softer tyres for the last 22 laps.
By the time that Albers ripped the nose from his Spyker at turn eight, Alonso was up with old rival Raikkonen, but an error just as the safety car was being readied cost him the chance to pass the Finn before the pace was reduced again. Desperate to make up ground and limit the damage his team-mate looked set to inflict in terms of points, the world champion hit the kerb at eight and then had to negotiate the Albers debris from an awkward line, allowing Kimi to escape.
Sato pitted for the final time under the safety car, giving up a points position - and then appeared to have lost all hope of adding to his Barcelona score when the
Super Aguri team again erred, stopping the Japanese driver from leaving despite being ready.
It was only now that the crimes committed by Massa and Fisichella at the first round of stops came under investigation, and if
Ferrari and
Renault thought they had escaped censure, they were to be proved wrong. And the penalty was hard for, instead of drive-thrus or the like, both drivers received instant black flags, removing two points candidates at a stroke.
