Motorsport: Schumacher a winner again

IMOLA, Italy - Michael Schumacher triggered Ferrari jubilation at their home San Marino Grand Prix today with a first win in 13 races for the Formula One glamour team.

It was the 85th victory of the seven-times world champion's career, and seventh at Imola, but he was harried all the way by Renault's Fernando Alonso who extended his championship lead.

In a repeat of last year's nose-to-tail thriller, only in reverse order with that race won by the young Spaniard after Schumacher failed to find a way past, the German, 37, won by two seconds.

"It's great, what else can you say?" declared Schumacher, embracing team boss Jean Todt on the sunlit podium after raising both thumbs in the air and punching the sky in delight as he crossed the finish line.

"We've had a really big push from everybody and as you can see, this is the result," added Schumacher, who crashed out of the last Australian race and suffered engine problems in Malaysia.

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya was third for McLaren, ahead of Brazilian Felipe Massa for Ferrari and Kimi Raikkonen in another McLaren.

Australian Mark Webber was sixth for Williams, with Briton Jenson Button seventh for Honda and Italian Giancarlo Fisichella taking the last point for Renault.

Spaniard Alonso, the world champion and winner of two of the season's first three races, has 36 points after four races.

Schumacher moved up to second with 21, ahead of McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen on 18. Renault lead the constructors' standings with 51 points to McLaren's 33 and Ferrari's 30.

Schumacher's last victory was at the six-car US Grand Prix last June, a race that turned into a fiasco when all the Michelin teams pulled out before the start. Today's result ended Renault's run of four wins in a row.

The German's last real win was the Japanese Grand Prix in October 2004, a season he dominated with 13 victories.

On Sunday he led from pole position, a record 66th of his career to overtake the late great Ayrton Senna's 65, until he pitted at the end of lap 20 as Alonso hit the front.

Alonso had five quick laps before he too pitted and handed the lead back to Schumacher.

The real duel began there, with the German far slower on his second set of tyres and Alonso right up behind him after slashing the advantage from 11.2 seconds to 0.2 in 10 laps.

- REUTERS