Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso of Spain celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the German Formula One Grand Prix in Hockenheim, Germany, Sunday, July 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)
July 22, 2012 - 10:12 AM
HOCKENHEIM, Germany - Fernando Alonso led from the start to win the German Grand Prix in his Ferrari on Sunday and extend his Formula One championship lead.
Alonso never opened a big lead but never lost it either, except for the brief pit stops.
The Spaniard fended off the Red Bull of two-time defending champion Sebastian Vettel and the McLaren of Jenson Button.
"It was tough. Maybe we were not the fastest in dry conditions but we were competitive to retain the lead," Alonso said. "Jenson was putting a lot of pressure."
Vettel failed again to win his home race but passed Button with one lap remaining in the 67-lap race to take second. The move was under scrutiny from the stewards to see whether Vettel was off track when he passed.
Button struggled with his tires in last few laps, after challenging Alonso for the lead.
Alonso became the first driver to win three races this season and now has a 34-point lead over Mark Webber, the second Red Bull driver who was eighth.
Vettel stayed third after 10 of 20 races.
News from © The Associated Press, 2012