F1: Alonso thrills Spain with stylish win

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Two-time champion Fernando Alonso paid a warm tribute to his Ferrari team and the massive Spanish crowd on Sunday after he drove to a dominant victory for Ferrari at the Spanish Grand Prix.

His win thrilled his compatriots in a 95,000-strong flag-waving home crowd that roared in delight after he had crossed the line to grab his second win at his home race and third on Spanish soil in recent years.

It was his second win of the season, in five races, and the 32nd win of his career - a triumph that endorsed his challenge for a third drivers' title on an afternoon of Spanish supremacy at the Circuit de Catalunya.

Driving with great aplomb, Alonso delivered a beautifully-judged performance to win a tactical contest dominated by tyre-wear management, finishing 9.338 seconds ahead of second placed Finn Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus.

Alonso's win bucked a trend at the Catalan circuit where 18 of the previous 22 events were won by the driver who started from pole position.

This time the pole-sitting German Nico Rosberg of Mercedes finished sixth ahead of Paul Di Resta of Force India.

In the drivers' championship, Alonso jumped to third with 72 points, behind leader Vettel on 89 and Raikkonen on 85.

Briton Lewis Hamilton on the other hand finished 12th. "I've been passed by a Williams now," he said in disgust at one stage. "I can't drive any slower."