Alonso wins Italian GP to close gap on Hamilton

MONZA – Defending world champion Fernando Alonso reduced his McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton’s lead at the top of the world championship to just three points yesterday when he led him home at the Italian Grand Prix.

Alonso, who started from the 17th pole position of his career, dominated the race from start to finish and was only out of the leading position for five laps following his first of two pit-stops. The 2005 and 2206 champion came home seconds ahead of the 22-year-old British rookie to claim the 19th win in his 101st Grand Prix.With four races remaining, Hamilton leads by just three points with 92 to Spaniard Alonso’s 89.The only races remaining are next Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix and then the events in Japan, China and Brazil.Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen finished third for Ferrari, who suffered a dismal afternoon on home turf and against the background of the acrimonious and controversial ‘spy story’ scandal in which they claim McLaren have gained an advantage from a secret dossier that was leaked from Ferrari.Brazilian Felipe Massa, who started third for Ferrari, was unable to finish after retiring early in the race after only 11 laps.German Nick Heidfeld finished fourth for BMW Sauber ahead of his team-mate Pole Robert Kubica, German Nico Rosberg in a Williams and Finn Heikki Kovalainen in a Renault.Briton Jenson Button collected the final single point finishing eighth for Honda.The 53-laps race began in perfect dry conditions, warm sunshine pouring down from a blue sky.The track temperature was 33 degrees Celsius and the air temperature 28 degrees as the cars completed their formation lap.At the start, Alonso pulled away with a faultless departure from the grid.Hamilton, not enjoying the same smooth pace, struggled and was passed on the run down to the first chicane by Massa in his Ferrari.Nampa-AFPThe 2005 and 2206 champion came home seconds ahead of the 22-year-old British rookie to claim the 19th win in his 101st Grand Prix.With four races remaining, Hamilton leads by just three points with 92 to Spaniard Alonso’s 89.The only races remaining are next Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix and then the events in Japan, China and Brazil.Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen finished third for Ferrari, who suffered a dismal afternoon on home turf and against the background of the acrimonious and controversial ‘spy story’ scandal in which they claim McLaren have gained an advantage from a secret dossier that was leaked from Ferrari.Brazilian Felipe Massa, who started third for Ferrari, was unable to finish after retiring early in the race after only 11 laps.German Nick Heidfeld finished fourth for BMW Sauber ahead of his team-mate Pole Robert Kubica, German Nico Rosberg in a Williams and Finn Heikki Kovalainen in a Renault.Briton Jenson Button collected the final single point finishing eighth for Honda.The 53-laps race began in perfect dry conditions, warm sunshine pouring down from a blue sky.The track temperature was 33 degrees Celsius and the air temperature 28 degrees as the cars completed their formation lap.At the start, Alonso pulled away with a faultless departure from the grid.Hamilton, not enjoying the same smooth pace, struggled and was passed on the run down to the first chicane by Massa in his Ferrari.Nampa-AFP