Montoya takes big step forward

With eight races remaining, Alonso has 77 points to Raikkonen’s 51.

The race was dictated by the first few seconds. Alonso, starting on pole position for the fourth time in 11 races, had no reply as Montoya surged from third place on the grid to run side by side with the Spaniard through the first corner.

The fiery Colombian, determined to put a troubled first half of the season behind him, made the move stick and the remaining 59 laps came down to the pitstops.

That was where Renault’s hopes of getting both their drivers on the podium for only the second time this year came unstuck, with Alonso’s Italian team mate Giancarlo Fisichella again cursed by misfortune. Fisichella was in third place, when the Renault stalled after his second pitstop.

The Roman ended up fourth, ahead of BAR’s Briton Jenson Button — the overwhelming crowd favourite on a sunny afternoon — and Ferrari’s seven times world champion Michael Schumacher.

That was Schumacher’s worst result at Silverstone since he broke his leg there in a 1999 crash. In 14 races at the circuit, he had never finished lower than fourth. Rubens Barrichello was seventh with Toyota’s Ralf Schumacher claiming the final point.

Renault continue to lead the constructors’ standings with 102 points to McLaren’s 87. (Reuters)

Narain fails to finish

Narain Karthikeyan’s hopes of an impressive show at his Jordan team’s home circuit were bombed as electronics failure stalled his car in the 11th lap and making it a no finish at the British Formula 1 Grand Prix here today.

Tiago Monteiro, Narain’s Portugese teammate, was 17th, ahead of the two Minardi drivers Christijan Albers and Patrick Friesacher.

The lone retirement of Karthikeyan was a huge disappointment for Jordan whose headquarters lies just across the Silverstone circuit.