Alonso has it in him to strike back with vengeance

Fernando Alonso had a unique way of coming back when Michael Schumacher won two races in a row 8212; he won the next four.

Fernando Alonso had a unique way of coming back when Michael Schumacher won two races in a row 8212; he won the next four. Alonso will get another chance to try to double up after Schumacher took the French Grand Prix to win consecutive races.

Schumacher won the French Grand Prix for a record eighth time, finishing 10 seconds ahead Alonso. Felipe Massa, Schumacher8217;s Ferrari teammate, was third. The victory helped Schumacher close the gap on Alonso in the standings with seven races left. Alonso has 96 points 8211; 17 ahead of Schumacher.

8220;We have clearly made up ground and we have to keep on working at that pace and for sure everybody will just keep pushing for the last seven races,8221; Schumacher said. 8220;It8217;s far from being over.8221;

After early season struggles, the seven-time world champion won the San Marino GP and the European GP. However, Alonso8212; who took the title away from the German in 2005 8211; then won at Spain, Monaco, Britain and Canada.

8220;Everybody thought that they would win all the races and then we won four consecutive races and hopefully this will happen again from the next race on,8221; Alonso said. With Schumacher8217;s victories at the US GP and now in France, Alonso is looking forward to the German GP on July 30. 8220;Indianapolis was a strange race,8221; Alonso said recalling the problem with the Michelin tyres last year which forced his team and six others to pull out. 8220;From the tyres and the difficulties we had last year. Maybe we were too conservative or whatever. I think here we were close, but not quick enough.8221;

Schumacher agreed. 8220;Indianapolis was not really the reference in a way. We were too dominant,8221; Schumacher said.

Alonso knew he didn8217;t have too much of a chance in France, either, as the Ferraris were quicker. 8220;Given where I started on the grid, I think second is everything I could have hoped for because we knew that Michael was a bit quicker this weekend.8221; Schumacher got away cleanly at the start and Massa did his best to stay ahead of Alonso.

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8220;We had a great start, being first and second,8221; Schumacher said. 8220;It was an excellent situation to start the race.8221; By the 23rd lap Schumacher was 6.1 seconds ahead of Massa and 11 ahead of Alonso. The second set of pit stops started around lap 38 8211; with Alonso going in after the 42nd, meaning he would be able to get to the end of the race without another stop.

8220;We figured the Ferraris were on a three stop,8221; Alonso said. 8220;We took a gamble and we believed in our consistency.8221; After 50 laps, Schumacher was up by 20 over Massa and 30 ahead of Alonso. The Ferraris needed one more stop for fuel and tyres. Alonso8217;s Renault didn8217;t and he was able to get by Massa, but trailed Schumacher by 15 seconds.

8211;SALVATORE ZANCA