Formula One news

Montoya wins at Monza

Juan Pablo Montoya held on to take victory in the Italian Grand Prix despite a rear tyre problem. The Colombian took his second win of the season ahead of Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella. A troubled afternoon of various dramas meant Raikkonen could finish no better than fourth.

Montoya made a clean start to lead Alonso and Button into the first corner. Jarno Trulli got ahead of Takuma Sato, but the Japanese driver reclaimed fourth by driving around the outside of the Toyota in the Parabolica. Trulli then fell back and was passed by both Ferraris. At the end of lap two Montoya led Alonso, Button, Sato, Barrichello and Michael Schumacher.

Kimi Raikkonen made a poor start and was passed by a fast-starting Jacques Villeneuve. The Finn was still stuck in eleventh and seemingly unable to overtake Villeneuve's Sauber. Montoya meanwhile was pulling away at the front and was fifteen seconds ahead of his team mate after just five laps.

Raikkonen was finally released when Villeneuve pitted on lap 14. The Finn then put the hammer down and made progress while the cars ahead of him pitted. Alonso refuelled on lap 19 and after a slow stop rejoined just ahead of Raikkonen. The Finn swarmed all over the back of the Renault and a lap later had passed his championship rival into the second chicane.

Having cleared Alonso, Raikkonen was on a charge and fired in fastest laps right until he refuelled on lap 25. Just when it looked as though the race was on, rubber began falling off Raikkonen's rear right tyre and the Finn was forced to pit for a replacement. The unscheduled stop dropped Raikkonen back down from fifth to twelfth and behind Jacques Villeneuve - again.

As the second round of pit stops dawned, Raikkonen made his way back up the field and was as high as fourth before he spun. Trulli passed the McLaren but the Finn was back on a charge and muscled his way past the Toyota with a mighty move down the inside of Parabolica. Raikkonen then set about chasing down Giancarlo Fisichella for third place.

Meanwhile the other McLaren of Montoya developed the same rear tyre problem Raikkonen had but hung on until the end without pitting to win the Italian Grand Prix from Fernando Alonso. Giancarlo Fisichella did enough to keep Raikkonen at bay until the finish. Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher crowned a good day for Toyota in fifth and sixth while Antonio Pizzonia collected two points for Williams after substituting for Nick Heidfeld. Jenson Button claimed the remaining point in eighth.

Fernando Alonso now goes 27 points ahead of Kimi Raikkonen while in the constructors' championship McLaren have taken just one point out of Renault's lead - now down to eight points.

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