Race Notes - Massa dominates Bahrain GP

Felipe Massa won the Bahrain Grand Prix from pole today in his Ferrari, taking his third career win. The Brazilian dominated the race and finished 2.3 seconds ahead of rookie sensation Lewis Hamilton in his McLaren-Mercedes in second, and a further 8.4 seconds ahead of Kimi Raikkonen in his Ferrari in third.

22-year-old Hamilton's second place was his third podium in his first three races - the first driver to do so in the history of the sport. The lead in the Championship is now a three way tie between Hamilton, Alonso and Raikkonen.

Nick Heidfeld finished in fourth in the BMW, followed by Fernando Alonso in fifth for McLaren-Mercedes, Robert Kubica in sixth for BMW, Jarno Trulli in seventh for Toyota and Giancarlo Fisichella in the final points paying position in his Renault.

At the start Massa got the lead from pole into the first corner with Hamilton slotting in behind him, while Alonso passed Raikkonen into the second corner to take third. Meanwhile behind them, Jenson Button, Scott Speed and Adrian Sutil came together, the Honda and Toro Rosso out on the spot, while Sutil limped back to the pits, bringing out the Safety Car. During the yellow Liuzzi pitted for fuel and tyres, switching off the harder compound.

The Safety Car pulled of on lap three, with the order remaining the same.

At lap 5 the order was Massa leading Hamilton, followed by Alonso, Raikkonen, Heidfeld, Kubica, Fisichella, Webber, Kovalainen and Trulli in tenth place.

On lap 9 Liuzzi takes a drive through penalty for a safety car infringment, while on the track Rosberg has an off-course excursion while battling with his team mate for 11th place, losing a place to Coulthard.

Massa continued to lead Hamilton by under 1 second, while Alonso and Raikkonen battled a further 5 seconds behind, with Heidfeld closing in on the pair.

On lap 17 Coulthard pitted from 12th place after starting at the back, along with Wurz and Schumacher, followed by Webber on lap 18, Hamilton from second place on lap 19.

On lap 19 Rosberg and Kovalainen banged wheels will battling for 8th place, Rosberg taking the spot.

On lap 21 Massa pitted from the lead along with Trulli, Sato and Liuzzi, followed by Alonso and Rosberg on lap 22, Raikkonen, Heidfeld and Kubica on lap 23 - Raikkonen getting out ahead of Alonso on the stop, and Anthony Davidson from sixth place, the last to pit on lap 28.

On lap 30 Coulthard passes Fisichella for seventh place, while Heidfeld took Alonso for fourth place.

At lap 31 Massa led Hamilton by 9 seconds, followed by Raikkonen 2 seconds further back in third, Heidfeld, Alonso, Kubica, Coulthard, Webber, Fisichella and Trulli in tenth place.

On lap 34 Wurz was the first to make his second stop, while on the track Sato pulled off the track with an engine failure. Coulthard pitted from seventh place on lap 35.

On lap 36 Raikkonen closed to 1.4 seconds of Hamilton, while Coulthard limped to the pits and retired.

On lap 40 Massa pitted from the lead along with Rosberg, followed by Raikkonen and Heidfeld on lap 41.

On lap 42 Webber pulled off the track, while Trulli and Kovalainen pitted on lap 42, Alonso and Kubica pitting on lap 43 and Hamilton from the lead and FIsichella on lap 44.

At lap 45, with all the stops done, the order was Massa seven seconds ahead of Hamilton, followed two seconds further back by Raikkonen, Heidfeld, Alonso, Kubica, Fisichella Trulli, Kovalainen and Rosberg in tenth.

On lap 52 Davidson retired with an engine failure.

In the closing laps Hamilton was closing the gap with Massa finishing just 2.3 seconds behind Massa.