Race Notes - Fisichella wins Malaysian GP from pole

Italian Giancarlo Fisichella took the Malaysian Grand Prix today in a Renault 1-2 - his team mate, World Champion Fernando Alonso finishing four seconds behind, while British driver Jenson Button came home in third place in his Honda some 9 seconds behind the leader.

It is Fisichella's third career victory, and the first 1-2 finish for Renault since the 1982 French Grand Prix.

Juan Pablo Montoya finished in fourth place in his McLaren-Mercedes, followed by Ferrari team mates Felipe Massa and Michael Schumacher in fifth and sixth.

Jacques Villeneuve finished in seventh place, with Ralf Schumacher in the Toyota finishing in the final points paying position.

At the start Alonso made a quick start and jumped from seventh to third, while Webber got past his Williams team mate Rosberg. On the first lap, Kimi Raikkonen went off into the gravel trap and crashed his McLaren-Mercedes, after coming together with Christian Klien who pitted with left front suspension damage, and would eventually retire.

By lap 3 Fisichella led Button, Alonso Webber, Montoya, Rosberg and Heidfeld in eighth, with Michael Schumacher in 10th, and Felipe Massa in 13th (from 21st on the grid), and Barrichello in 15th.

On lap 7 Nico Rosberg retires with a large engine failure from sixth place.

On lap 10, David Coulthard retired with a gearbox problem.

On lap 14 Webber pitted from fourth place after hounding Alonso during the first stint, but retired on lap 16 with an engine failure.

On lap 17 Fisichella pitted with a four second lead to rejoin in third, followed by Button on lap 19 - handing over the lead to Alonso, as rain drops started to fall near the pits, but the rains held off.

On lap 23, Montoya, Schumacher and Villeneuve all pitted, followed by Heidfeld a lap later.

After a long first stint Alonso pitted from the lead on lap 26 to rejoin in third behind Button. Massa pitted on lap 29 and Barrichello was the last of the first round stoppers on lap 31.

At lap 32 the order was Fisichella ten seconds ahead of Button, followed by Alonso, Montoya, Heidfeld, Schumacher, Massa and Villeneuve in eighth.

Barrichello pits to take a 10 second stop-go penalty for speeding in the pits.

On lat 38 Fisichella pits from the lead along with Button from third for their final stops, followed by Montoya and Heidfeld on lap 42, and Alonso on lap 43 - passing Button for second place, and Schumacher on lap 45.

At lap 46 the order was Fisichella by 8 seconds in front of his team mate Alonso, followed by Button, Montoya, Heidfeld, Massa, Schumacher and Villeneuve.

On lap 48 Heidfeld's BMW engine let go, retiring from fifth place.