Hamilton wins second consecutive GP

F1 Grand Prix, GP United States, Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Hamilton is becoming the benchmark this year in F1 as he now won his second consecutive race and increases his championship lead to 9 points. Fernando Alonso charged his teammate heavily in the midst part of the race but was unable to get passed the youngster. Felipe Massa is third and was just able to hold off his teammate who put in the fastest lap of the race.

This year's US Grand Prix is to be held on the Indianapolis speedway for 73 laps. At the time of the start it is also very hot with the air being 36 degrees Celsius and the track as hot as 59 degrees. All drivers except Raikkonen and Sato are on the softer compound tire.

Alonso was immediately aggressive at the start, picking up behind his teammate and taking the outside of the corner. He was however unable to pass Hamilton. A bit further down in the field, Raikkonen lost 2 places to Heidfeld and Kovalainen while Ralf Schumacher hit both Barrichello and Coulthard. All three men are out of the race while several others had to cut some grass in order to rejoin the track. Tonio Liuzzi could profit the most of the event as he gained 8 places in the first lap.

One lap later Fisichella slides off the circuit in corner 4 and ends up in the gravel trap. He is able te rejoin the race at the back of the pack, effectively ruining his good start. It resulted in several hot overtaking manouvres, especially with Button where Fisichella managed to pass after virtually driving side by side for half a lap.

After 14 laps Sato is out in the same corner after slightly moving his left rear wheel into the grass. Unfortunately for him, the Japanese is stuck in the gravel and sees his race ended.

Lap 19 marks a very unusual event in which a marshall is waving his blue flag a little too enthousiastic and loses it on track. The upcoming Alonso luckily could avoid the object. One lap later, Heidfeld misses his braking point at the first corner and rejoins the track just in between Kovalainen and Raikkonen.

Lap 21 marks the first pitstops for Hamilton, Massa and Heidfeld. Alonso follows only one lap later without changing positions. The stops temporarily put Kovalainen in the lead. His teammate Fisichella is meanwhile also driving a stunning race after passing Wurz on the outside of corner 5. He is even that comfortable that he repeats his feat 4 laps later with Liuzzi.

After 30 laps in the race, Alonso has upped his pace and is closing in on Hamilton. The difference was reduced from 5 seconds to less than one. The Spaniard attempts to pass one time but without success. With both men in the same cars it is going to be very difficult to get close enough for a pass.

In lap 50 Alonso is the first of the McLarens to come in. Because Hamilton also enters just on lap later, the positions remain unchanged. Behind them, both Ferraris have come together again after some blistering laps from Raikkonen. Kimi is experiencing the same problems as Alonso as it is very hard to pass an identical car, particularly with the current regulations.

With 17 laps left Heidfeld's race is over because the failure of his BMW gearbox. Rosberg later on also has to abandon the race with a blown up Toyota engine. 2 laps before the end Liuzzi slowly rolls into the pitlane and also stops his car.