• 2005 Belgian Grand Prix

Raikkonen edges out Alonso at Spa

David Addison
September 11, 2005
Raikkonen is greeted by his crew at the finish in Spa © Sutton Images
Enlarge
Related Links

A win in Belgium for Kimi Raikkonen kept his slim championship hopes alive while Fernando Alonso continued to make heavy weather of winning the crown by finishing second. He retained his championship lead but the margin over Raikkonen was reduced.

On a damp road, the field started on intermediate tyres and while many drivers pitted early for the grooved, dry-rubber tyres, McLaren kept Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya on inters. Montoya led but a safety car was needed when Giancarlo Fisichella crashed his Renault on lap 13. With the rush for the pits, the order changed, but they shuffled again two laps later when the drizzle returned. The rain never really went away and those who pitted for dry tyres had to pit again as it was just too wet for them.

So, with McLaren holding a one-two, all looked well. That was until Montoya came up to lap Antonio Pizzonia. After his impressive showing at Monza, this was the opposite. The Brazilian drove clumsily when Montoya came up to lap him and they tangled, both retiring on the spot. Pizzonia was fined $8,000 by the stewards for his part in the incident and that promoted Alonso to second behind Raikkonen with Jenson Button taking third for Honda.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
ESPN Staff Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices