Alonso wins Formula One Spanish Grand Prix

Ferrari Formula One driver Fernando Alonso of Spain carries his national flag after winning the Spanish F1 Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo, near Barcelona, May 12, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

MADRID - Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso won the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya on Sunday after a very competitive race where he started from the fifth place.

Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen was second, while Ferrari's Felipe Massa third and Redbull's Sebastian Vettel fourth.

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg took the pole on Saturday at the qualifying sessions and he was able to keep the first position during the beginning of the race but the Mercedes cars' problems with tire usage cost him and Alonso, who stopped four times, passed him at the start of the 13th lap of the race.

Rosberg made three stops and finished sixth while Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, who started from the second spot in the race, experienced the same problem with tires and despite good results of Saturday he finished 12th.

Alonso is now the world's number 3 after his second victory of the year, 32nd of his career.

At the end of the race he was very grateful for the support showed by the audience. "Winning again at home was amazing," he said, adding that he appreciated the fact that many Spaniards had gone to see him taking into account the economic crisis in the country.

The Spanish Grand Prix started on May 10 at the Circuit of Catalunya in Monmelo, 32 kilometers away from Barcelona. Around 94,800 people came to watch Sunday's final race at the circuit.