CHINESE GRAND PRIX Alonso wins to deliver first title

His seventh win this season gave Renault its first constructors' title.
SHANGHAI, China (AP) -- Fernando Alonso passed the checkered flag and broke into song, ending a triumphant season for the Spanish driver and his Renault team.
The world champion captured the Chinese Grand Prix Sunday to clinch Renault's first constructors' title. Alonso started from the pole in the Formula One finale and held off McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen for his seventh title this season and eighth overall.
Alonso burst into the Queen anthem "We Are the Champions" over the team radio during his victory lap. He was embraced by Renault director Flavio Briatore after leaving the car. The 24-year-old driver then jumped on a fence and waved to his team and mechanics, a more animated celebration than the one three weeks ago in Brazil when he became F1's youngest champion.
"For the team it has been a fantastic season," said Alonso, who averaged 114.502 mph for the 56 laps. "It was not crucial but quite important for the team for the motivation for next year."
Raikkonen second
Raikkonen made a move in the final laps but finished second, four seconds behind. Toyota's Ralf Schumacher was third and Alonso's teammate, Giancarlo Fisichella, was fourth.
"I did my best but it wasn't enough today," Raikkonen said. "The Renaults were too quick."
Renault finished with 191 points for the season. McLaren had 182 points, with Juan Pablo Montoya going 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 totaling 133 points and Raikkonen 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."
Schumacher No. 3
Michael Schumacher, despite all his problems this year, ended third in the standings with 62 points, ahead of Montoya (60) and Fisichella (58).
Schumacher, the seven-time world champion, was forced to start from the pit lane after a pre-race collision. Then, 22 laps into the race, his car spun and he walked off the track.
Schumacher's dead-last finish marked the seventh time in this year's 19-race season he earned no points.
"This weird ending pretty much sums up our season," he said. "Now let's look ahead to putting things right next season."
Hit from behind
Schumacher was making his way to the grid 30 minutes before the start when he veered left and was plowed into from behind by Minardi's Christijan Albers. The accident left Schumacher's front left wheel badly askew, blackened his Ferrari's chassis and shredded his rear tire.
Schumacher said he had been warming up his tires when "suddenly I felt a big bang." Race stewards reprimanded Schumacher for causing the accident.
Scrambling back to his garage, Schumacher started from the pit lane in a backup car and had moved up to 10th place when he spun on the gentle eighth turn. Cold, worn tires were to blame, he said.