Alonso says he's learned from '05 mistake

Last year, the Renault driver retired for the first time in the season at the Montreal race after brushing the wall and damaging his car. It was one of few errors Alonso made during the season.

"Yes," said Alonso when asked if he had learned from last year's mistake. "I am probably more calm when I have problems with my team and now I try to keep cool and don't be so emotional when I have to fight with my teammate."

"For sure last year this mistake, this big push, I was coming from 20 laps behind my teammate and the team told me you have to push because Montoya has five laps more fuel than you in the second stop.

"I said, okay now it is too late, I will push but it will not be possible, so now I learned from this.

"When it is possible to win it will be possible and when sometimes people tell me it is too late to push I will push but not 110 percent, only 100."

The error in Canada and the United States Grand Prix disaster, with the Michelin teams deciding not to start the race, were Alonso's lowest point of the season.

The Spaniard is confident of enjoying a better time in North America this time around.

"It had been a fantastic season in 2005 apart from these two races - in Canada a mistake and in Indianapolis we did not even start the race so it was not a good moment in the championship," he added.

"But I think this year is completely different, we arrived with high motivation winning the last few races and I'll try to finish on the podium in the next two races here and in Indy."