Race Notes - Alonso wins Monaco GP

Fernando Alonso dominated the Monaco Grand Prix today from pole position in his McLaren-Mercedes to take his second win of the season, ahead of his team mate Lewis Hamilton in second by four seconds, and the Ferrari of Felipe Massa in third more than a minute behind.

Fourth place, a lap down, went to the Renault of Giancarlo Fisichella, Robert Kubica in the BMW was fifth, his team mate Nick Heidfeld in sixth, the Williams-Toyota of Alexander Wurz in seventh and the Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen taking the final points paying position.

The two McLaren-Mercedes drivers are now tied for the lead in the Drivers World Championship standings. Hamilton has finished on the podium in all five of his F1 starts.

At the start Alonso took the lead from pole with Hamilton slotting in behind him, Heidfeld jumping up past Webber and Rosberg to take fifth, Barrichello jumping up to seventh. On lap 2 Liuzzi lost it at the top of the hill at Massanet and slammed the barriers - his car quickly cleared away.

At lap 5 the order was Alonso leading his team mate Hamilton, followed by Massa, Fisichella, Heidfeld, Rosberg, Barrichello, Webber, Kubica and Wurz in tenth place.

The order remained the same, as Alonso sprinted away with a number of fast laps. By lap 10 he had a 4 second lead over Hamilton, who was 3 seconds ahead of Massa, who was 7 seconds ahead of Fisichella - the top four pulling away from the rest of the field.

On lap 18, Webber pulled into the pits and retired with a gearbox problem.

At lap 23, Fisichella was the first to pit from fourth place, along with Rosberg from sixth place, followed by Sato on lap 25, race leader Alonso and Massa on lap 26, Hamilton on lap 28.

At lap 30 the order was Alonso 4 seconds ahead of Hamilton, followed 21 seconds further back by Massa, Heidfeld, Fisichella, Barrichello, Kubica, Wurz, Button and Raikkonen in tenth.

On lap 32, Heidfeld pitted from fourth place, followed by Barrichello on lap 37, Davidson serving a penalty for ignoring the blue flags, and then pitting again for service on the next lap, Button on lap 41, Wurz and Kovalainen on lap 45, Kubica and Speed on lap 46 and Raikkonen on lap 48.

At lap 50 the order was Alonso leading his team mate Hamilton by 10 seconds, followed 31 seconds further back by Massa, with Fisichella 22 seconds further back in fourth, followed a lap down by Kubica, Heidfeld, Wurz, Barrichello, Button and Rosberg in tenth.

On lap 51, Alonso was the first man to make a second stop, followed by Hamilton on lap 52, Massa and Fisichella on lap 55.

On lap 56 Sutil brushes the wall and retires at Casino Square.

After the second stops, Hamilton closed up behind his team mate Alonso to under a second behind.

On lap 60 Rosberg pitted, followed by Barrichello on lap 61, and Button on lap 62.

At lap 65, Alonso led Hamilton by 1 second, followed 48 seconds back in third by Massa, and Fisichella 18 seconds further behind, followed a lap down by Kubica, Heidfeld, Wurz, Raikkonen, Speed and Barrichello in tenth.

The order remained the same to the line.