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The 2005 Formula One season was a watershed
(AP)
Updated: 2005-12-20 11:16

LONDON (AP) _ The 2005 Formula One season was a watershed.

Fernando Alonso became Formula One's youngest champion at 24, ending seven-time winner Michael Schumacher's string of five straight season titles.

The Spaniard won three of the first four races _ and four of the first seven _ and then protected the lead. The Renault driver wound up with seven wins, the same as McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen.

"I had to think about the big prize," Alonso said. "I could have taken risks to win each race, but I had to think about the wider picture. We made a good start to the year, then controlled the performance during the summer."

In 19 races, Alonso racked up 133 points, followed by Raikkonen with 112 and Schumacher with 62. Renault also won the team title with 191 points, while McLaren was second with 182 and Ferrari third with 100. Ferrari had won six straight team titles.

Alonso clinched the season title in Brazil _ with two races to spare _ by finishing third in a race won by Juan Pablo Montoya of McLaren. McLaren won 10 times and probably had the quickest car, but broke down too often.

Asked about his best memory of the season, Alonso replied: "I think Brazil will stay as the day of my life."

He was also certain about his best overtaking maneuver of the year. It happened before 160,000 fans in the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, where Alonso swept by Schumacher at 300 kph (200 mph) through a tough, left-hand turn.

Many called it one of the best passes ever in F1.

"He (Schumacher) closed the door. It was risky but I made it," Alonso said. "It was a big risk move, maybe too much in fact _ but very satisfying."

Alonso announced this month that he will join McLaren in 2007.

Schumacher will be 37 when the new season begins on March 12 in Bahrain, and has vowed to rebound.

"When I came home from the final race in China, it was different than before," Schumacher said. "I had no need for a vacation, I had no need to rest."
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