'Fisico': after the Sepang title

Italian driver thinks big and launches his perfume

SEPANG, Malaysia - There were only words of congratulations and elation coming out of Giancarlo Fisichella's radio after the Renault driver's victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday.
That was in sharp contrast to last week in Bahrain, when Fisichella began swearing into the team radio when he dropped out after 21 laps with engine problems as teammate Fernando Alonso sped on to the win.
This time it was Fisichella ahead of Alonso as the pair gave Renault only its second 1-2 finish, with the last coming 24 years ago at the 1982 French Grand Prix.
Fisichella was ahead of Alonso by 4.5 seconds at the finish, and controlled the race throughout. Honda's Jenson Button took third in the 56-lap race at the 3.4-mile Sepang International Circuit. Juan Pablo Montoya in a McLaren-Mercedes was fourth.
"It was important for me to do my best," said Fisichella. "It was really hot. In the middle of the race you are tired. It's important to concentrate."
Jacques Villeneuve of Iberville, Que., finished seventh.
"It was an easier race than I had expected and I knew I should be in good shape mechanically because it was the first race for my engine," Villeneuve said. "We've scored the points we should have taken in Bahrain so I am happy. The race pace was strong, so we need now to work on our qualifying."
It was a tough day for the Midland team, which is owned by Russian-born Canadian Alex Shnaider. Christijan Albers of the Netherlands finished 12th while Portugal's Tiego Monteiro was thirteenth.
Fisichella previously won at the rain-shortened Brazilian Grand Prix in 2003 - a victory initially given to Kimi Raikkonen - and last year's Australian race.
Michael Schumacher, who won five straight world championships until Alonso broke the streak last year, started 14th on the grid after dropping 10 places due to an engine change. Ferrari was uncertain of the reliability of the new V8 engine after the opening race.
He finished behind Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa in sixth place.
Fisichella started from the pole and controlled the entire race. The 33-year-old Italian led until his first pit stop on the 17th lap, when he was the first of the major contenders to pit. By the 25th lap, he was back at the front, with Button second and Alonso third.
The second set of stops for fuel and tires started on the 38th lap, with Fisichella and Button together in the pits. Alonso stayed out five laps longer. Less fuel and a lightning-fast stop allowed the Spaniard to go past Button into second.
Fisichella led by almost 12 seconds at that point over Alonso. The world champion whittled the gap to about 8 seconds with 10 laps left, but could not catch Fisichella.
"There was no point in the race where we could have gone any quicker. ... They pulled away so quickly at the start," Button said. "The pace of the Renaults is very good. At the moment, it looks as though we are their closest rivals, but we are not on their pace. Hopefully, we will not let them get away."
Massa, Ferrari's second driver, started on the back row - after another engine change - and came in less than a second ahead of Schumacher.
"During the race I was able to push a bit more at the right moment, knowing that during the other phases I would need to play more of a waiting game," said Massa, who gained his first points with the team.
Toyota's Ralf Schumacher, who started on the last row, was eighth.
Raikkonen, the 2003 Malaysian GP winner, lasted less than 30 seconds in the race. He was hit from behind by Red Bull's Christian Klein and broke a rear suspension.
"It was fairly obvious that Christian Klein made a pretty fundamental mistake and ran into the back of me," Raikkonen said.
Another star from last week also had a short race. Rookie Nico Rosberg of Williams, who had the fastest lap and came in seventh in his first race, blew his car's engine in a mass of flame and smoke on the seventh lap.
Alonso leads the drivers standings with 18 points. The next race is April 2 at the Australian Gp.
Driver Standings (after two of 18 races)
1. Fernando Alonso, Spain, Renault, 18 points; 2. (tie), Michael Schumacher, Germany, Ferrari; and Jenson Button, England, Honda, 11; 4. Giancarlo Fisichella, Italy, Renault, 10; 5. Juan Pablo Montoya, Colombia, McLaren, 9. 6. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, McLaren, 6; 7. Felipe Massa, Brazil, Ferrari, 4; 8. Mark Webber, Australia, Williams, 3; 9. Nico Rosberg, Germany, Williams, 2; 10. Jacques Villeneuve, Iberville, Que., BMW-Sauber 2. 11. (tie), Ralf Schumacher, Germany, Toyota; and Christian Klien, Austria, Red Bull, 1.

Publication Date: 2006-03-26
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=6105