Europe: Michelin poised to take step forward

By Michelin Sport
May 7 2006

Fernando Alonso maintained his Formula One world championship lead after a terrific duel with arch-rival Michael Schumacher in the Grand Prix of Europe, at the Nurburgring.

The Spaniard led away from pole position and kept Schumacher at bay for the first two-thirds of the race, but their positions were reversed during their second and final pit stops. Alonso consolidated thereafter to finish as runner-up. He leads Schumacher by 44 points to 31 after five of this year's 18 world championship races.

Only 13 cars completed a race of attrition. Kimi Raikkonen, Rubens Barrichello, Giancarlo Fisichella and Jacques Villeneuve also scored points for Michelin.

Nick Shorrock
Formula One Director
Michelin

"It looks as though the track offered less grip this afternoon than it did yesterday. It looks as though the compounds we selected were probably too hard for the prevailing conditions.

"The San Marino grand prix had already been fiercely competitive, but we have learned a lot from it and have already developed some new products that will make their debut in Spain next weekend. We expect another close race in Barcelona – but I am confident we are poised to take another step forward."