After a wheel-to-wheel duel down the main straightaway entering the final lap, Kimi Raikkonen overtook Giancarlo Fisichella with a daring move Sunday to claim a stunning win at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Raikkonen charged from the back of the starting grid to take his seventh victory of the season and ninth of his career overtaking Fisichella just before the first turn on the Suzuka circuit.
"I was thinking which way to go because the inside is more easy to overtake," said Raikkonen. "But Fisichella was on the inside so I didn't have much choice.
"I went to the outside to try to go around him and luckily I made it," the McLaren driver said. "I was very happy."
The pair almost touched at speeds more than 300kph.
"Losing the first place was not great but Kimi was flying," said Fisichella, who commanded a 19-second lead at one point in the race.
"I had already seen him catching me in the middle of the straight and going on the left side. I could already see the possibility of losing the first position," he said. "I always try to keep my position but I could see there was the possibility of a collision.
"I am a little bit disappointed but I did my best and it was a good day for us because we took over the lead on the constructors championship," Fisichella said.
In the constructors race, Renault reclaimed the lead over McLaren with new world champion Fernando Alonso coming in third. Renault takes a 176-174 lead into the final race of the season at Shanghai next week.
Bright sun and near-cloudless skies greeted the race in sharp contrast to Saturday's qualifying when rain in the final 10 minutes marred the top drivers' qualifying laps.
Alonso, Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya -- who had won the last eight races between them -- were in the final three rows on the grid.
Despite the near-perfect conditions Sunday, a safety car slowed the field for six laps at the start after Montoya, who had won two of the last three races, crashed out at the end of the first lap, ending McLaren's hopes of possibly clinching the title at Japan.
Fisichella took over the lead on the 13th lap after pole sitter Ralf Schumacher went in for fuel.
Raikkonen, who started in 17th, made his way through the field and was in sixth place by that time and passed Michael Schumacher by the 30th lap to go into fourth.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely