Japanese GP 2005
OCTOBER 9, 2005
Race Notes - Raikkonen wins Japanese GP
© The Cahier Archive
Kimi Raikkonen won the Japanese GP at Suzuka, in his McLaren-Mercedes after starting the race from last place. Second place went to Giancarlo Fisichella in his Renault after leading for much of the race and getting passed on the last lap. New World Champion Fernando Alonso was third in the other Renault.
Fourth place went to Mark Webber in his Williams-BMW, followed by Button in fifth in his BAR-Honda, David Coulthard's Red Bull in sixth, Michael Schumacher in the Ferrari in seventh and his brother Ralf Schumacher finishing in the final points paying position
At the start, home favorite Takuma Sato got squeezed at the first corner have to go through the gravel trap - with Barrichello doing the same.
At the end of the first lap, out of the final chicane, Montoya tried to pass Villeneuve on the outside, and ran out of room, taking to the gravel trap, and then crashing into the barrier heavily, bringing out the safety car.
The order was Ralf Schumacher leading from Fisichella, Button, Coulthard, Webber, Klien, Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso in 8th.
The field went back to racing on lap 7, Michael getting past Klien for sixth, with Alonso getting past Klien the next lap.
On lap 9, Antonio Pizzonia spun in got stuck in the gravel. At the start of lap 10, Alonso fell back from Schumacher allowing Klien by, but then regained his pace. Meanwhile at the chicane Jarno Trulli and Takuma Sato came together putting the Italian out on the spot.
On lap 12, Alonso passed Klien once again on the run down to the first corner.
On lap 13, leader Ralf Schumacher was the first runner to stop, along with Karthikeyan in the Jordan, Doornbas on lap 15, Albers on lap 16.
At lap 19, Fisichella led Button by 4 seconds, Coulthard in third, Webber in fourth, followed by the battling Michael Schumacher, Alonso and Raikkonen. Klien ran in 8th and Ralf Schumacher in ninth.
On lap 20, Fisichella pitted, while at the same time Alonso forced the issue and boldly passed Michael into the 130R corner - the fastest corner on the track - taking over fourth place.
Button, Alonso and Klien made their first stops on lap 22, Coulthard and Webber on lap 23, Massa on lap 25, Michael Schumacher and Raikkonen on lap 26, and Villeneuve making the last on the first stops on lap 27.
At lap 28, Fisichella led Ralf Schumacher by 4.5 seconds, followed by Button six seconds further back, Webber, Michael, Raikkonen, Alonso and Coulthard in eighth.
The second round on stops started with Ralf Schumacher on lap 28, Sato on lap 29.
Meanwhile, Raikkonen passed Michael from the outside into the first corner for fourth, leaving Alonso nipping at the Ferrari's heels - making the same move on the German two laps later.
On lap 35 Fisichella led by 17 seconds, with the battle for second place heating up with Button followed in line by Webber, Raikkonen and Alonso.
On lap 36, Alonso made his second stop, Fisichella on lap 38, Button, Webber and Klien on lap 41 - Webber passing the BAR driver out of the pits, Michael on lap 42, Coulthard, Ralf and Massa on lap 44 and Raikkonen on lap 45 leapfrogging up to second place.
On lap 46, Fisichella led by 5 seconds ahead of Raikkonen, Webber, Alonso, Button, Coulthard, Michael, Ralf, Klien and Massa in tenth.
On lap 49, Alonso passed Webber on the start-finish straight for third place.
On lap 52, Raikkonen passes Fisichella for the lead.