Highlights

Normal service to be resumed in France, say Renault

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-07-05 11:50

"It was 15 points after Nuerburgring (in May). Now, five races later, it is 19 points," Alonso told reporters. "The races keep going and the gap never decreases below 15 points. So it's a comfortable gap."

Alonso won at Magny-Cours last year and Renault have every confidence that they can do it again, particularly with the champion having a new engine.

"I think it is important to keep things in perspective," said chief strategist and engineering head Pat Symonds.

"Indianapolis is an unusual circuit with some unique characteristics.

"In 2005, we had our worst part of the championship in North America. This year we are coming away with 25 points.

"We got beaten this weekend, and nobody in the team likes losing. But we are ready to fight. We have a very aggressive development programme in place for the coming races and we hope to be much more competitive in France.

"I expect normal service to be resumed in Magny-Cours which means a tight, intriguing battle between ourselves, Ferrari and McLaren," added Symonds.

Schumacher's win, in Ferrari's first real one-two since Monza 2004, was the result that team had been dreaming of since emerging from their 2005 slump.

It was their most dominant performance since Schumacher ran away with his seventh crown two years ago.

"We knew that if all the pieces of the jigsaw -- reliability, consistent performance from the Bridgestone tyres, the work of drivers and the team -- fitted together, we were capable of getting the job done," said team boss Jean Todt.

"This is the best possible start to the second half of the season and a one-two finish is a further encouragement to tackle the remaining races in the best possible way."