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Alonso Crashes; Hamilton Takes F1 Points Lead

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The Associated Press

Published: October 1, 2007

OYAMA, Japan - Lewis Hamilton moved to the brink of making Formula One history - with a little help from the weather.

The British driver won the Japanese GP on Sunday, using his pole position to avoid dangerous spray from rival cars in wet and wild conditions.

Rain, spray and even fog caused race organizers to start the race behind a safety car until conditions improved.

'I think for me it was one of the most, if not the most, difficult races I had to do. The conditions were changing so much,' Hamilton said.

Hamilton took a 12-point lead in the standings over defending champion and McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso, who crashed out of the race, while the Ferrari drivers had tire trouble.

Renault driver Heikki Kovalainen was second and Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen third.

Hamilton can become the first rookie to win the world title if he finishes the Oct. 7 Chinese GP leading Alonso by at least 11 points.

Hamilton has 107 points, Alonso is second with 95 and Raikkonen has 90.

The last race of the season is in Brazil on Oct. 21.

'There are two races to go. I need to knuckle down and I won't be going partying,' Hamilton said. 'The key for me is to focus on the next race and take it as it comes.'

At the start, Hamilton led a procession around the Fuji speedway for 19 laps with Alonso second. Then the safety car went in and there was racing again with the cars spraying water far behind them, causing visibility problems for all except Hamilton.

After 25 laps, Hamilton and Alonso were 2.7 seconds apart before Hamilton was bumped by Robert Kubica and both spun briefly.

A little later Alonso and Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel had a similar incident.

'I think the car was damaged quite a bit by that but I was able to continue,' Alonso said.

After the various pit stops, Hamilton regained the lead with 25 laps to go.

No sooner had Hamilton regained the lead than Alonso's race was over in the 42nd lap. He spun and hit the wall hard, sending his car skidding across the wet track.

Hamilton maintained the lead without a problem for his fourth victory of the season.

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