Schumacher's history-making achievement was not the sort that the yellow-and-blue-shirted fans crowding the grandstands had hoped to see, 100 years after Renault won the first French Grand Prix at Le Mans.

After Italy's World Cup final success over France in Schumacher's native Germany last Sunday, an Italian team had once again dashed French hopes with Ferrari dominant in Renault's home race.

Alonso put the result into perspective, however.

"To be second, on a difficult weekend for us, is a perfect result," said the Spaniard, who pushed Massa hard into the first corner but then had to wait until the pitstops to go past.

"It was close, I was nearly on the grass at one point so I had to back off," he said.

Schumacher, already far and away the most successful driver in Formula One history, punched the air with his fists as he crossed the line for his second win in a row after Indianapolis on July 2.

Out of the car, the 37-year-old hugged French team boss Jean Todt with the Italian flag in his hands.

Schumacher's younger brother Ralf was fourth for Toyota, after leading for two laps at the first stops, ahead of McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen.

Italian Giancarlo Fisichella was sixth for Renault, with Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa seventh and back on the scoresheet for McLaren after a year's absence.

Test driver de la Rosa was replacing Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, who announced last weekend that he was leaving Formula One for the U.S. NASCAR series next year.

Germany's Nick Heidfeld took the final point for BMW Sauber.