Alonso plays down Ferrari form

The Renault driver, ending a run of four wins and 15 podium finishes in a row, finished fifth in a field depleted by a first lap pile-up. His Italian teammate Giancarlo Fisichella was third.

It was the Spaniard's worst result since he finished 11th in Hungary last July but his first finish in five visits to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"We knew at the start of the year this would be the hardest race and it was confirmed," said the Spaniard at the end of the race. "But I think third and fifth is a good result for Renault and in the second part of the season we will do very well.

"It was more or less what we expected. It was impossible to fight the Ferraris and once Fisichella overtook me I tried to keep the distance. It's been a tough race, but four points is a better result than in previous years, when I failed to finish the race.

"Now we are going to more a favourable venue in France and we are aiming to win the race."

Schumacher's win reduced the gap to Alonso to 19 points, but the Renault driver is confident he will increase it again in Europe.

"After winning four races in a row I said the championship was not over at all, and I sounded too pessimistic," he said. "But you don't have to be so optimistic when you have a gap of 25 points or so pessimistic now to think that our advantage is going to be gone quickly.

"You have to look at the bigger picture. I think in the eight races left we'll be able to keep on winning and increase the lead."