Alonso and F1

[Skytalker777]

Alonso: Kimi made beating Michael more special.

 

New Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso has admitted that, while claiming the crown against former powerhouse Michael Schumacher, having Kimi Raikkonen pushing him all the way made the achievement even more special.

 

 

Ending Schumacher's five-year reign naturally casts a spotlight on the young Spaniard - now the youngest-ever F1 champion - but there will be many who will point to the demise of Ferrari for undervaluing the achievement. For that reason, Alonso is happy that Raikkonen at least provided some competition during the season.

 

 

"Everyone wants to beat Michael on the track, because it is the same as beating [Lance] Armstrong in the Tour de France," Alonso, a product of cycling-mad Spain, suggested, "In the first year that Michael is not racing, maybe the championship won't have the same value. People think that maybe, with Michael on the track, it is different, and to beat Michael this year was really an extra happiness for me.

 

 

"However, it was fantastic for me to have some competition. I think, thanks to Kimi, this world title is much better for me because Michael had some problems with the Ferrari this year. To beat the McLarens, and especially Kimi, this year was extremely difficult. As we saw in the last part of the championship, it's impossible to win one race when they have no problems, so to beat Kimi over the year is probably more [difficult] than Michael [had it] in the last couple of years."

 

 

Asked whether he foresaw new 'Alonso era' in Formula One following his title, the Renault man admitted that things were more open this season, and expected them to continue that way in 2006.

 

 

"I think, every year, every car is different and, sometimes, it is my name in the newspapers and, sometimes, it is Kimi, sometimes Button, Juan Pablo," he explained, "This year was my year, with no problems at all. Luck was always with me, and my team really helped me a lot, so everything came to me this year. But, for sure, in the next few races, or next year, it may be different.

 

 

"We saw McLaren and Renault were very strong this year, but it is impossible to know who the best teams will be next year. We saw Ferrari dominating really strongly last year, and nobody imagined that, this year, they would be nowhere. I think that, for next year, it will be the same thing. We all start from zero with the V8, but I'm really confident. I think my team is approaching the 2006 season in the perfect way so, hopefully, we can still fight for the championship."

 

Source: AutoExpres (UK) 26.09.2005

[Mihai]

Alonso CAMPION. Bravo a meritat

[AR99RMS]

Alonso CAMPION. Bravo a meritat

142002[/snapback]

 

mda ce sa iti spun......is curios cat o sa isi mentina coroana.....dal in spuma marii de blanos

 

schumi rules forever .....pacat ca s_a retras :blink: