Be sure to have read the first part of this article before continuing on with this.
Fernando Alonso failed to score points in the next two races at Montreal, Canada, and the controversial USA Grand Prix at Indianapolis.
Michelin announced that the tyres, that all but three teams used, were deemed unsafe for the track. It’s believed that the final banked corner would be too much trouble for them, causing great danger to the drivers.
There were huge crowds at the Brickyard, eager to watch a great race. Drivers attempted to promote the idea of a chicane being built on the final corner to slow down the cars and reduce the chance of greater tyre wear. This recommendation was rejected.
Only three teams entered the race, all driving on Bridgestone tyres, all remaining cars completed the formation lap before retiring to the pits. The three teams were Ferrari, Minardi and Jordan. All cars scored points with Michael Schumacher comfortably winning in front of team-mate Rubens Barrichello. Thiago Montiero became the only ever Portuguese driver to get an F1 podium finishing third, followed by fellow Jordan driver Narain Karthikeyan. The two Minardis of Patrick Friesacher and Christijan Albers were the last of the running drivers.
The next race was at Magny-Cours in France, Alonso took his third pole position and then won the race, his Renault car being cheered by the fans.
Alonso was pole again in Britain but came second to Colombian and current IndyCar runner-up Juan Pablo Montoya.
Title challenger Kimi Raikkonen’s car retired from the lead of the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, handing the win over to rival Fernando Alonso.
The Spaniard was poor in Hungary, qualifying sixth and finishing eleventh after making contact with the Toyota of Ralf Schumacher. Rival Raikkonen went on to win at Turkey and Belgium and finished fourth at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
The sport then travelled to Interlagos where Alonso was handed with the possibility of winning the 2005 title. The race saw Juan Pablo Montoya take his second of the season, followed by team-mate Kimi Raikkonen. Fernando Alonso had finished third, but it was enough to secure the title for himself.
Alonso became the youngest every Formula One World Champion at 24 years and 59 days – breaking Emerson Fittipaldi’s record. This also broke Schumacher’s five-year dominance.
The 2005 champion still had to complete the Japanese and Chinese Grand Prix, he won the Chinese in style- winning Renault the Constructor’s Title.
2006 saw the season re-start, Alonso stayed with Renault and deservedly won the first race of the season at Sakhir, Bahrain.
Alonso went on to win the third race of the season at Australia after coming second at Malaysia.
The 2005 champion fell short of winning the San Marino and European Grand Prix to German rival Michael Schumacher. Alonso did, however, go on to become the first ever Spaniard to win the Spanish Grand Prix.
The rest of the season saw Alonso and Schumacher’s trading wins until the season came to end in Brazil. Second place was enough for Alonso to win the title and become the youngest ever double World Champion.
2007 saw Alonso make a switch to McLaren, taking his first win for them in Malaysia – and the team’s first since 2005. The Spaniard took further wins at Monaco and Nurburgring.After an espionage controversy after the Hungarian Grand Prix, Alonso felt that it was right to leave the team at the end of the season.
Alonso spent the next two years at Renault again, the first being better than the second. In his first season back there he achieved two wins and finished fifth in the standings. However, the following year saw him go on without a win and finish ninth in the World Standings.
2010 saw Fernando Alonso join Ferrari for the first time. Alonso won his first race for Ferrari. Despite a great battle between Vettel and Alonso throughout the season, Alonso lost out in the final race at Abu Dhabi. He was unable to pass Vitaly Petrov which allowed the German to claim his first World Championship.
Part Three of Three will be out tomorrow.
