SHANGHAI: World champion Fernando Alonso won the season-ending Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday to clinch his Renault team's first-ever Formula One constructors' title.

Starting from pole position, Alonso held off McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen to take his seventh title this season and eighth overall.

Raikkonen began closing in the final laps but could only settle for second place, four seconds behind the Spaniard. Toyota's Ralf Schumacher came third.

Alonso slowed on the final lap to allow Raikkonen to get within four seconds but it was not that close. On his victory lap, he broke into the Queen song ``We are the Champions'' over the team radio.

``For the team it has been a fantastic season,'' Alonso said.

``It was not crucial but quite important for the team for the motivation for next year. So thanks to the team.''

Raikkonen was gracious in defeat.

``I did my best but it wasn't enough today. The Renaults were too quick,'' he said. ``Compliments to them,''

Renault finished with 191 points for the season, after Alonso won and teammate Giancarlo Fisichella finished fourth. McLaren had 182 points as Juan Pablo Montoya went out after 25 laps.

``It was pleasure for me to fight all year with Kimi,'' Alonso said. ``He had a better car and more problems than me. Now at the end we proved we had something in the pocket for the last part of the season.''

The drivers' championship ended with Alonso amassing 133 points for the season and Raikkonen with 112.

``I am a little bit frustrated that I only won seven races, the same as Kimi,'' Alonso said.

``Because I think the car had the potential.''

Michael Schumacher, despite all his problems this year, ended up third in the standings with 62 points, ahead of Montoya on 60 and Fisichella with 58.

Schumi spins out

Michael Schumacher's bad luck at Shanghai continued, starting from the pit lane after a pre-race collision then spinning out in his backup car after just 22 laps.

Alonso and Fisichella pulled away from the field at the start before Alonso began to draw away and gained about a second a lap to lead by 11.2 seconds at the end of 10 laps.

The McLarens were third and fourth, keeping within a second or two of Fisichella.

The race changed dramatically when the safety car came out after the 19th lap when Montoya ran over a drain cover on the track. Alonso's lead of nearly 20-seconds evaporated.

When they resumed racing on the 24th lap, Alonso was chased by Fisichella and Raikkonen. Montoya was in 13th then immediately went into the pits, his race finished.

Alonso led Fisichella by four seconds midway through the 56-lap race when the safety car returned after Jordan's Narain Karthikeyan missed a turn and crashed on the 30th lap, spewing debris over the track.

Raikkonen was subsequently able to move pass Fisichella, who was penalized later in the race for obstruction in the pit lane. The pitted at the same time, Fisichella just ahead of Raikkonen.

Narain's accident

Meanwhile, Narain Karthikeyan's debut F-1 season came to an anti-climactic end as he crashed out after being involved in a huge accident.

Narain hit a side barrier on turn eight on the 29th lap, resulting in heavy damage to his car but the Jordan driver walked out safely.

The accident could have been even bigger but Karthikeyan was lucky as the immediately passing Jacques Villeneuve's Sauber narrowly missed his Jordan, stranded in the middle of the track.

Disappointment

Later, Narain said he was extremely disappointed that he could not finish the race for his team — Jordan Grand Prix. ``What a shame to have an early end to a good race. Everything was really going fine. I am so disappointed for me and for the team not to have been able to finish this race,'' the rookie F-1 driver said.

``I was lucky to escape the accident as I did not hurt myself although the car was in pieces. I only have a sore neck,'' he said while revealing that he had promised himself before the start that he would cross the line in a good position.

``I wish I didn't have to give up under these conditions.''

``I had a very good start and despite the weight of my car, on the sixth lap, I had Sato and Albers behind me. I was trailing in 16th and 14th and then 13th after Montoya's retirement. The strategy of the team was working. It was a real good race but till then,'' Narain said. — Agencies

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