McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen led the Monaco Grand Prix from start to finish
for a commanding victory in F1's most glamorous race.
The Finnish 'Iceman's' second win in a row, and the fourth of his
career, was a perfect present for engine partners Mercedes as they
celebrated their 200th start in the world championship.
Raikkonen's domination contrasted with the struggles of Renault's
overall leader Fernando Alonso and world champion Michael Schumacher.
Alonso, second for much of the race, was forced on the defensive and
had to hang on grimly for fourth place with his rear tyres worn almost
smooth and a queue of rivals stacked
up behind the Spaniard.
Germany's Nick Heidfeld was second for Williams, blasting past Alonso
six laps from the finish, with Australian team mate Mark Webber third for
his first podium finish after slipping past the Spaniard at the chicane
after the tunnel.
"It's a special place," said the Finn, who was runner-up in 2003 to
Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, then with Williams and now his team mate.
"Two years ago I got so close but I couldn't get past Montoya. Now
finally it has happened so I'm very happy."
Alonso has 49 points to 27 for Raikkonen and 26 for Italian Jarno
Trulli. Renault lead the constructors' standings with 63 points to
McLaren's 51 and Toyota's 43.
While McLaren and Renault fought for
supremacy, once dominant champions Ferrari took their losing streak to
seven races in a row with seven-times champion Schumacher taking a meagre
two points in seventh place.
The German, five times a winner in Monaco and triumphant 13 times in 18
races last year, had another afternoon to forget but he kept on fighting
to the finish.
His race was wrecked when he hit the back of David Coulthard's Red Bull
in a five-car jam caused by Minardi's Christijan Albers skewing across the road at Mirabeau and
blocking the track on lap 25.
Coulthard, twice a winner here for McLaren, retired at the end of
the lap while Schumacher, his front wing ripped off, pitted for a
replacement and rejoined a lap down with the safety car deployed.
While Alonso and others refuelled during the safety car period,
Raikkonen stayed out and pulled away before pitting after the half
distance.
Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya made an amazing recovery from 16th place
on the grid to finish fifth with Germany's Ralf Schumacher sixth for
Toyota. Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello took the final point in eighth
place.
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-05-23 09:17
