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Alonso rolls to victory in Japanese Grand Prix

Oct 12, 2008 - 6:46 AM OYAMA, Japan (Ticker) -- Fernando Alonso raced to victory in the Japan Grand Prix on Sunday.

The victory was Alonso's second in a row for Renault and 21st overall. He took the Singapore Grand Prix on September 28.

"It's difficult to believe. Today, we had nothing, but we won again," Alonso said. "I cannot believe it. Back-to-back wins is a very nice feeling."

Alonso's task was made considerably easier by a multi-car incident at the start that sent points leader and pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton to the pits for a stop that left him a lap down until he finally unlapped himself on the final circuit of the race.

Both Hamilton and main rival Felipe Massa were hit with drive-through penalties. The Briton Hamilton received his for cutting off Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari in the race to the first corner. Massa earned his for sending Hamilton into a spin on lap two.

"The start was probably the most exciting part of the race," Alonso said. "I took the benefit of that and put myself behind Robert (Kubica) and the race was easier."

Kubica finished second for BMW. Raikkonen was third. Nelsinho Piquet was fourth for Renault and Jarno Trulli was fifth for Toyota in its home race.

Hamilton finished 12th for McLaren. Massa placed eighth and closed the gap to six points, 84-78. Kubica is the only other driver with a shot at the 2008 championship, standing at 72 points.

Two races remain in the season.