SPOILER ALERT! Japan Grand Prix results and disappointments
The Japan Grand Prix wrapped up moments ago and in a huge disappointment for Ferrari fans, Michael Schumacher's engine blew up in an unspectacular fashion on lap 37, taking the race leader out of the competition.
Schumacher held a healthy lead over Fernando Alonso throughout the race and was gaining momentum, setting a record time in the previous sector, before his catastrophic engine mishap. In typical gentleman-racer style, Renault's Fernando Alonso blew past Schumacher, briefly waving to his German competition as he took the lead.
The first reported details of the race are available at Formula1.com.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
John 3:40AM (10/08/2006)
Very exciting and surprising race, until after the point of MSCs engine failure. After that, it was ALO all the way, with a MAS trailing him by about 15s. It looks like ALO will be champion again this year, all he needs is to take it easy and place in a points-winning position at Interlagos.
Asturias!
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drip 3:48AM (10/08/2006)
Yep, it looks like ALO will win World Championship #2.
Seems pretty strange, though, to leave Renault when they are stil very, very competitive. McLaren must be paying him some seriously large bank.
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TDIMeister 3:51AM (10/08/2006)
Maybe it's an omen that Schumi can't put up the helmet and Nomex suit at Suzuka. Not like this.
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Steve 6:45AM (10/08/2006)
That's disappointing, but you've got to have a working engine to win a race. F1 always walks the line between performance and reliability.
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Greg A. 6:59AM (10/08/2006)
Darn it, I saw the headline of this item and was hoping to see pics of the spoiler on the JDM Pontiac Grand Prix.
:p
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Emil 7:48AM (10/08/2006)
Great race, despite the unfortunate Schumacher engine blow-out. His car started smoking right in front of us in the Paddock Club Grand Stands... which was exciting.
Pics from the race here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/emilgh/sets/72157594311099906/
Next stop, BRAZIL!
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Tiago do Vale 9:20AM (10/08/2006)
The last time Schumi stoped with a broken engine was 5 years ago...
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Poleaxe 11:20AM (10/08/2006)
There are no words to desribe how much I despise the arrogance, whining, sense of entitlement and vile pure lack of sportsmanship which Alonso embodies. He's an excellent driver, but waving at your competitor with gloating glee when he breaks down is the mark of a truly pathetic personality. What a pile of dung.
If there was such a thing as karma, that pompous strutting bantam would never finish another Formula 1 race.
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Steve 12:08PM (10/08/2006)
Yeah that wasn't cool of Alonso, but Flavio's a freaking badass no matter WHAT he says. Alonso's going to McLaren next year anyway, that jerk.
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julian 12:23PM (10/08/2006)
my heart ached with pain when i heard the news. really saddening. but brazil might be the opposite.
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Ted K 1:05PM (10/08/2006)
I always respected FA's driving ability.
Before this race I suspected that he was childish and immature but not enough to really care.
After this race I think he is a rotten scumbag. What a jerk. Is it wrong to wish misfortune upon a driver? Because I hope he crashes out next week for these obnoxious immature actions. I hope he loses the title because he is a poor icon for the motorsport world.
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Greg H 1:08PM (10/08/2006)
Be prepared - Massa's new team orders will be to physically take Alonso out of the last race! He'll really be a Junior Schumacher then!
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ZoomZoomin' 8:20PM (10/08/2006)
That race totally ruined my day...make that week...month perhaps? I was more worried about the half shaft or a collision...never remotely thought that could happen. So amazingly gutted. After that, I just jumped straight the results and shut off my Tivo.
Yeah, I'm not a big Alonso fan. He truly deserves a spot at McLaren next season. You can argue excessive blocking, questionable driving strategies, etc. are unsporstman-like conduct, but waving at your opponent as you pass by when they have a failure is pretty egregious.
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Nick R 9:28PM (10/08/2006)
Alonso couldn't have waved at a nicer guy. Payback's a bitch.
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Aaron 9:38PM (10/08/2006)
After all of the bad calls against Renault this year, Alonso has every right to celebrate some good luck for Renault! After all the pro-Farrari calls Renault has had to endure this year, I would be waving too!
To all of you MS fans, let's not forget Michael's long list of less-then-sportman type moves, including Monaco 2006, punting Damon Hill off in Australia, clashing with JV several times, and pushing Mika into the grass at 190mph at Spa.
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chewy 12:14AM (10/09/2006)
Homologation, FIA ruins the season with its own rules.
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John 3:58AM (10/09/2006)
C'mon Ferrari fans, don't be all sour now because your boy isn't going to go out as the current champion. Was it ALO's fault that his engine failed? No. Should he not celebrate because of what occured that "gave" him the victory? No. If only Raikkonen had a reliable car, this would've been a 3-way race for the championship.
"Now we feel confident for Brazil - but we are taking nothing for granted. The races are long, and you have to get everything right to make sure you finish in front."
Asturias!
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Shinkaze 10:26AM (10/09/2006)
#8 so help me understad Ferrari Fan logic here. Waving as you drive past a competitor is bad sportsmanship, but pulling over and blocking the Qualification lap at Monaco was Okay?
Don't worry I'm sure the FIA will say Alonso's post race victory dance was bad form, or something else equally silly, dock him 5 places on the grid and try to hand Michael the championship.....again.
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amp 1:23PM (10/09/2006)
Thanks for the spoiler warning. Your kind gesture hasn't gone unnoticed.
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Jim 9:51PM (10/09/2006)
What the hell is with you guys? Why do you insist on putting some spoiler information in the title? Why can't you do the decent thing and put all the spoiler information after the jump? The "dissapointing"
in the title is enough to tell anyone who watched qualifying that something happened to schumey in the race.
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