Felipe Massa of Ferrari won the Turkish Grand Prix yesterday from the pole position, his first Formula One victory in his 67th race.
"It's like a dream come true," he said, openly choking back tears after an emotional victory.
Renault's Fernando Alonso held off Ferrari's Michael Schumacher in a thrilling duel over the last dozen laps to take second and increase his lead slightly over the German in the season standings.
PHOTO: EPA
With four races to go -- next up is the Italian GP on Sept. 14 -- defending champion Alonso has 108 points and Schumacher has 96. In the team points' race, Renault has 160 points and Ferrari has 158.
Alonso finished just centimeters ahead of Schumacher, and 5.5 seconds behind Massa.
"It's just amazing, just looking back at everything I did in my life to get here," the 25-year-old winning Brazilian said. "I'm here. It's a fantastic day for me."
PHOTO: EPA
Massa came to Ferrari this season as the second driver behind Schumacher following three uneventful years at Sauber.
Alonso was happy with second, but unhappy about not winning.
"I'm very happy in a way, but not too happy because we were not able to win," he said.
"We were lucky with the safety car and overtook Michael there," Alonso added. "The last 15 laps were very close ... I was able to finish in front by half a car. At the last I knew the distance was very close, but I knew it was enough."
Schumacher congratulated his teammate. But he was aware that had he been able to overtake Alonso, he might have won the race with his teammate likely yielding to him at the finish line.
"Yes, it was a nice fight towards the end," Schumacher said.
Last year's winner Kimi Raikkonen punctured a tire on the opening lap and crashed on the second lap when he lost his left tire.
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