FERNANDO ALONSO won the 2006
F1 Foster's Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne, taking his tenth career victory, on Sunday, making it three out of three for the
Renault team, and leading the drivers' standings with 28 points.
The announced attendance for Sunday was 103,000, and the premier of Victoria, STEVE BRACKS, gave the four-day total as more than 300,000. More like 301,800 by my calculations.
Alonso said: "This was a very different race to the other so far this season. Today, it was quite comfortable. There were no fights, and I was very relaxed for a lot of the race. I managed to get a good gap on each re-start and that made life quite easy for me. I am pleased we were able to save the engine performance for the next race."
Alonso beat KIMI RAIKKONEN by 1.8 seconds, but liberal use of the safety car narrowed Alonso's large leads every time an incident brought out the caution flags. Runner-up Raikkonen also turned the fastest race lap of 1:26.045 - on the last lap. Raikkonen, who finished second in the F1 Championship last season, is second in the current chase. He said he flat-spotted his tyre while trying to pass pole sitter JENSON BUTTON, which caused a vibration, upsetting a wing. Raikkonen was able to change it during one of the cautions.
Raikkonen said "The race was rather hectic."
RALF SCHUMACHER finished third, despite a speeding ticket on lap 21, followed by NICK HEIDFELD and Alonso's team-mate, GIANCARLO FISICHELLA. JACQUES VILLENEUVE, who started 19th due to an engine-change penalty, finished sixth; and RUBENS BARRICHELLO finished seventh.
