Alonso Proud to have Beaten Schumacher

The Renault driver can become the sport's youngest champion in Brazil this weekend with the 24-year-old Spaniard needing just six points to put the title out of the reach of McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen.

Schumacher's five-year reign has already ended, the seven times World Champion ruled out of the reckoning at the Italian Grand Prix earlier this month.

Alonso refused to take anything for granted at the Interlagos circuit on Thursday, saying he would explain once he had won the title what it felt like to take over from the sport's most successful driver.

"But for sure...with Michael on the track it is much better to win a title," he said.

"If not, it is the same as Armstrong in the Tour de France. The (first) winner (after him) will be maybe because Armstrong is not there."

American Armstrong bowed out of cycling's Tour de France this year after seven wins in a row. Schumacher has a contract to the end of next year.

"With Michael it is the same. If Michael retires and someone (then) wins, everybody will think that with Michael on the track it would have been a different story," said Alonso.

"Kimi and me had the possibility this year and one of the two will be winning with Michael on the track so it will be better for everybody."

Alonso has won six races this year, the same number as Raikkonen, but leads the Finn by 25 points with two races remaining after Brazil.

After saying earlier in the week that he planned to go for victory at Interlagos, the Spaniard recognised that he might have to play a tactical race in the end.

"At the moment I race for fun and we have to attack for victory," he said.

"If, at the middle of the race, we see we are in a good position for the championship then I will try to race as intelligently as I can, like in the last races, and make sure I have enough points to have my goal," said Alonso.

He said he was confident in the car after tests at Silverstone and expected to be fighting for the podium.