Normal service to be resumed in France, say Renault
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-07-05 11:50
LONDON, July 3 - Fernando Alonso's winning run ended on Sunday but
Renault's Formula One world champion remained unruffled.
The 24-year-old Spaniard expects 'normal service' to be resumed at his team's
home French Grand Prix next week.
While Indianapolis revived Ferrari and Michael Schumacher's title hopes, with
the German celebrating his third victory of the season, Alonso was inclined to
view the U.S. Grand Prix as a one-off.
"I am not worried for the next grands prix," he said after finishing fifth
with his lead over Schumacher slashed from 25 to 19 points.
"Sometimes we can win, sometimes not. I am already looking forward to the
next race, where I think we will see a more usual balance of competitiveness
between Renault and Ferrari."
Bridgestone, Ferrari's partners, had clearly the better-performing tyre for a
circuit that has never favoured rivals Michelin.
Even if they denied playing safe, Michelin were taking no risks on their
return to Indiana after last year's fiasco when all their seven teams, including
Renault, pulled out for safety reasons.
"The tyres we brought this weekend were designed to give us a combination of
durability and performance," said Michelin F1 director Nick Shorrock. "We
succeeded handsomely in the first part of our quest...but, for once, fell short
in the second."
POINTS GAINED
Last year, Alonso left North America empty-handed from the races in Canada
and Indianapolis but still won the championship at a canter. This year he
departs with 14 points.
The Brickyard ended a run of four successive wins and 15 podium finishes in a
row, but the Spaniard could live with that.
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