Alonso takes Bahrain GP

Season starts the same

Driving the new Ferrari Michael Schumacher briefly held a lead before slipping to second behind Fernando Alonso.

SAKHIR, Bahrain (AP) -- Defending Formula One champion Fernando Alonso of Renault almost collided with one Ferrari and held off the challenge of the other to win the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday.

Alonso's close call came in the eighth lap when Felipe Massa skidded in front of him, almost crashing into the 24-year-old Spaniard. The incident forced Massa into the pit, leaving Alonso with only seven time former champion Michael Schumacher to worry about.

A well planned pit strategy helped Alonso hold off the German, who had to settle for second.

McLaren Mercedes' Kimi Raikkonen finished an impressive third despite starting last on the grid, followed by Honda's Jenson Button and teammate Juan Pablo Montoya.

"I came very close to going out when Massa spun past me in turn 1," Alonso said. "It was really, really close. I saw in the mirror he was coming, but I tried to turn left in turn 1 to avoid him but he had passed already. It happened very quickly. I was lucky by a half meter (yard)."

Jacques Villeneuve of Iberville, Que., had engine failure and did not finish.

"My start was not particularly great, but I managed to find my way through the first few corners and to stay out of trouble there," Villeneuve said. "The race setup was fine and I settled into a good rhythm.

"Then all of a sudden I started to lose power, and that was it."

Alonso paid tribute to the Renault crew.

"This was a good, fighting win and I want to dedicate it to the mechanics and the team, for some fantastic pit stops and the right strategy," he said.

Alonso, who led from the 40th lap, thwarted an attempt by Schumacher to overtake him after his second pit stop on the 57 lap race at the Bahrain International Circuit.

"It was my moment. I knew if I was in front of him at the exit of the pits the race was for me," he said. "I pushed and (after) a perfect pit stop from the mechanics, I was in front of him. Very close, but in front."

Alonso's ninth career win came despite starting fourth, behind Schumacher, Massa and Button.

The race began with Schumacher moving into the lead. Massa held Alonso off through the first turn, before the Spaniard squeezed inside seconds later to move into second.

Massa's tires locked and his Ferrari skidded as it went around the first turn on the eighth lap to just avoid a collision with Alonso.

"He overtook me for a tenth of a second. He passed really quick," Alonso said. "I was lucky enough to not touch. Basically, the speed was too quick and I had no reaction. I was lucky."

Massa had to pit and the team had trouble with his rear wheel, taking almost 47 seconds to get the Brazilian back on the track, where he was 20th.

Schumacher held the lead until the 15th lap when he pitted first to allow Alonso in front.

"I'm certainly not complaining about finishing second," Schumacher said. "This year the fight for the championship will be very close. There are several good teams, all of which are capable of battling for the title and its great to be one of them."

By the 24th lap, Schumacher was back in first place by barely a second over Alonso. The German made his second pit stop on the 36th lap, while Alonso waited until the 39th.

The three extra laps and less fuel to be put in gave Alonso a quicker pit stop. Alonso and Schumacher went side by side around the first curve after the Spaniard came out.

"It was my only opportunity to win the race. I was going for it. I really knew the car was faster than Michael's with the tires, especially the first laps," Alonso said.

Alonso moved in front and it was a chase for the last 17 laps.

"I was on the outside and I tried and there was no opportunity," Schumacher said.

Schumacher bided his time until the last five laps where he quickly moved to make an attempt to pass.

Raikkonen threaded his way through the pack with only one pit stop to be fourth with 15 laps to go. The Finn took third when Montoya had to pit.

"Sure we would have had a chance to try to win the race," Raikkonen said. "The car was good. That was the positive thing."

Mark Webber of Williams and newcomer Nico Rosberg, also of Williams, were fifth and sixth.

Schumacher took his 65th pole position on Saturday to tie Ayrton Senna's record. It was his first pole since the Hungarian GP in 2005.

The next race is the Malaysian Grand Prix on March 19.