Alonso Wins Third Race of the Year and Doubles Second Place Trulli in Points Lead
If you're a Jacques Villeneuve fan (and after counting the letters sent into the editor in response to the Apr 17, 2005 news
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| If you're a Jacques Villeneuve fan you've got to feel a bit smug about his 6th place finish in Sunday's San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy. (Photo: Sauber Petronas) |
Not only did he score three points towards his total, and the Sauber Petronas team's, but also managed to squeak past Felipe Massa's two points total.
To Massa's credit, he managed a surprising 7th place finish in the first qualifying session, and then due to a slower second session and the need to aggregate the two times, plus being penalized ten places for having to change an engine prior to the weekend's running, he was forced to start the race in 18th position, which incidentally is dead last. His 12th place finish, hampered by an inability to get the car into gear at the start of the race plus a melee with David Coulthard that saw Massa lose his front wing and the need to pit, was much improved through attrition of those in front as well as a positive outcome to an end of race scrap against Red Bull's David Coulthard, is still a solid
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| After starting in 11th position on the grid, JV dueled with Williams BMW's Mark Webber early in the race and made the pass. (Photo: Williams BMW) |
After starting in 11th position on the grid, JV dueled with Williams BMW's Mark Webber early in the race and forced him wide, which opened up an opportunity to put the highly touted Australian in his rearview mirrors.
"Villeneuve drove a strong race from the outset, making a good getaway at the start to move up into the points," reported the team's website after the race. "The former Champion gained another post in the final round of pitstops to score three valuable points for the team. Felipe Massa battled hard with David Coulthard, eventually gaining the 12th position."