IMOLA, Italy - If anyone had any doubts about Fernando Alsonso's credentials to take Michael Schumacher's crown as world drivers' champion they will have been dispelled here Sunday.
The dazzling, courageous and cool-tempered Spaniard showed he has all the qualities required to lift the prize by absorbing enormous pressure from the seven-time champion from Germany - and seizing one of the most dramatic Formula One victories for years.
"I never gave up concentrating on victory and I had no intentions of letting Michael pass me," said Alonso after he had steered his Renault to his third successive win and the team's fourth in succession this year.
"We are here to win and I knew that if I concentrated on the job we could do it. Of course, Michael was fast, he was one second a lap faster than me and they told me that. But we had a strategy to deal with that problem and it worked."
Alonso's win lifted him clear at the top of the drivers standings and confirmed his standing as the natural successor to the 36-year-old defending champion - and also guaranteed that the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona in two weeks time will be a fiesta for his compatriots.
"It is going to be amazing," said Alonso. "I am feeling the big interest already, the pressure from the people but now it will get bigger and bigger. They are going to want to have a party and I hope I can help them."
While Alonso was feted by the Renault team and their flamboyant team chief Flavio Briatore in the wake of another great success, this time in Ferrari's back hard on the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari track less than an hour from their Maranello base, it was another frustrating day for the home fans.
After four outings this year, Ferrari are still waiting to chalk up their first win and can see Alonso growing into his new status as championship leader and favourite.
"I like it," smiled the young, dark-haired Spaniard from the northern city of Oviedo, who supports Real Madrid when he has time to spend a few hours at home.
He had special support in the paddock with him on Sunday as Real Madrid's Brazilian left-back Roberto Carlos flew in to back the Spanish challenger less than 15 hours after playing a leading role in the Galacticos' 2-1 victory over Villareal in La Liga.
"That was one of the best, if not the best, fighting finish to any race in my life," said Alonso.
"I knew Michael was at least one second a lap faster than me in the closing laps and I had to keep him behind me. My only chance to do that was to hold him up mid-way into the corners and then pull away.
"I had to push hard for the straights early then and it was a tactic that worked well. He was very close to me in two or three corners and I held on and in the end it was okay. I never thought of giving up and letting him through so I could settle for second place. Never."
Alonso, the championship leader, was handed the lead when Finn Kimi Raikkonen's McLaren expired early, but he had to keep composed to cope with a rejuvenated Schumacher in the closing stages.
04/24/2005 14:48 GMT