Fantastic Fernando fires at France

Powering ahead - Fernando Alonso

Alonso's crushing and almost mocking superiority at Magny-Cours must have made even the most sober director of Renault jump up in sheer ecstacy. Its been draught-time for the blues at a place they call home since the celebrated their last full-blown victory when Alain Prost took the podium in 1983. And it came at a time when it appeared as though the Britain based McLaren outfit was all set to outpace their foes from across the English channel after the race at Montreal which saw both Renault's bite dust after showing initial superiority. But that was not to be, and in a race that was awfully more exciting than the previous race (or the lack of one), Fernando grabbed the honors followed by a blistering Kimi Raikkonen with Michael Schumacher now staging a serious come back.

An intense qualifying session saw the top eight drivers separated by no more than 0.994 seconds. Alonso took pole position, finding himself alongside his close-pal and ex-teammate Jarno Trulli. Schumacher lurked behind them in P3 with the other seven of the top ten comprising of a menagerie of BAR's, Sauber's, a Ferrari and a Renault. Raikkonen, inspite of a splendid third during qualifying had to start thirteenth owing to an engine change. The crowd waited with bated breadth and exhaled only when all 20 cars were well past the pit lane. Settling back in their arm chairs, they watched an enthralling race as the god's of speed swept across the long straights and the lazy, sweeping corners of Mangy-Cours on a perfect mid-summer's day in France. If anybody could rest, it were the spectators, ensured of a 20-car race. But that was not to be for the drivers, especially the one's that were deprived of a race at Indianapolis. They sat in their cockpits, ready to use their steel behemoths to joust their hearts out at the start of the second leg of the European chapter. Off go the red lights.

A sweeping Alonso took off from pole, oblivious of the fact that he was being followed at all. Trulli and Schumacher spread out and resumed their positions behind the race leader. The McLaren-Mercedes's gunned by Kimi and Juan Pablo were quick to gain inspite of their heavy fuel tanks. A poor start by the Sato saw one Mr.Barichello scream ahead, tagging behind his band-leader Michael. In less than three-quarters of a lap, Raikkonen was all over the back of Massa, after having passed three other drivers, former world champion Villeneuve included. With all cars getting in and out of the first few corners without incident, the stage was set for a battle of strategy, good pit stops and tyre wear. Games that McLaren and Renault would play out to perfection.

With the lead Renault rocketing away, Trulli found his rear suspenders being under close scrutiny by the seven time World Champion. Trulli fended off Schumacher until the first set of pit stops, serving as a mobile chicane, one that would allow Alonso to extend his lead and Schumacher to scowl in frustration. Consecutive pitting from the rival teams makes it a two-three for the McLaren's, their pace rivalling that of Alonso. Raikkonen was the last to make the first pit stop, pitting on lap 28, thus indicating a two-stop strategy as against three from most other teams with the exception of the lead Renault.

With the top four ripping away, the middle part of the race saw a lot of action. Sato ventured out into the wild at times, ensuring that the track had an even supply of gravel and grass. Coulthard almost collided with Heidfeld coming out of the pits while Sato and the lesser of the two Renault's fought for fourth and fifth positions. Alonso made no mistakes and continued to set impressive speeds. Raikkonen followed suit with team mate Montoya. Schumacher pitted on his 34th, leading to gossip about a possible plan change for Ferrari. The Mindardi's bailed out as if by clock work, both owing to some form of tyre-problems.

The final section of the race saw Alonso lap every racer with the exception of car no's two and three, ones that belonged to Raikkonen and Schumacher. The unfortunate Montoya slowed down and retired the race owing to an engine problem. It appears as though the weight of ill-luck has shifted to the other pillar of the McLaren outfit. Taking the chequered flag on a trot, Alonso stuck out five fingers to a sea of blue that was bristling all over the grand stands. The bosses of Renault, headquartered in France were among the many who were impressed by the Spaniard's show of dominance at Magny-Cours. Raikkonen bellowed in twelve seconds later, with Schumacher coming in a distant third.

Jensen Button came in fourth and was elated at getting points which he could keep, with the Renault and Ferrari of Fissichella and Barichello grabbing points ahead of Ralf Schumacher and Canadian Jaques Villeneuve, the latter managing to get team Sauber its first points at Magny-Cours. A dissapointing race for the WilliamsF1 team, with both drivers failing to land in the points.

As for the Jordan's, Monteiro impressed, lapping in the 1 minute 21's, finishing thirteenth eventually. Karthikeyan, who has failed to prove his worth after the first few races found himself staring at the tail of Heidfeld's car even after the latter pitted six times which I presume must be a record of sorts for any racer completing a race.

All said and done, the French Grand Prix proved that Michelin were back in the offing. An expression of relief was evident on the faces of Pierre Dupasquier and Nick Shorrock, the Michelin "minions" after Alonso crossed the chequered flag.

With the magnificient Magny-Cours chapter coming to an end, the battle shifts across the English channel to Britain, the heart of Formula One engineering for many decades. Silverstone has handled many a controversy over the decades, but neverthless has managed to stay in the Formula One circuit. Renault lead the series with 89 points, with McLaren and Ferrari vying for second and third on 71 and 69 respectively. On the driver's front, Alonso leads Raikkonen and the now ressurgent Michael Schumacher, whose dream of an eigth title is far from over. Schumacher is still in the reckoning albiet 25 points separate him and the current leader.

Renault would now ferry across the English channel, closer to the McLaren headquarters, knowing very well that the victory might not have been theirs had Raikkonen not been unlucky enough to blow an engine. A duel with both Kimi and Alonso starting from the front of the grid peppered with the uncertainities of the British weather should prove to be a treat to watch as Formula One rolls on to race no 10 in a month packed with as many races as weekends - the busiest one in fifty-six years of mind-blowing speed!