Schumacher happy with second

Seven times world champion Schumacher, chasing his 85th win after taking a record-equalling pole position on an all-Ferrari front row, had to settle for second place after a thrilling battle with Fernando Alonso.

Alonso, the 24-year-old Spaniard who last year became Formula One's youngest champion, made sure of his ninth victory after emerging from his final pitstop just as the 37-year-old German was about to go past.

The two cars almost touched as they fought for the advantage, with Alonso holding firm to win by over a second and to start the season as he finished the last one, on top of the podium.

Schumacher, spearheading Ferrari's recovery from a dismal 2005 season, had led from the start while a determined Alonso roared past the German's new Brazilian teammate Felipe Massa at the third corner after starting fourth.

"We are obviously happy, it is eight points, which is two down from victory," said Schumacher. "We got pole yesterday and unfortunately lost one lap in qualy because of traffic. I had to back off and it was one lap I was missing, to be honest.

"But still we have nice, fast car and it was good racing."

Schumacher came close to Alonso in the final part of the race, but the German was unable to make a move to pass the Spaniard.

"You know what it is like in F1," said Schumacher. "When you sit behind another car, you need to be a lot quicker. There was once with a backmarker where I got close. I had a look to see if there was an opportunity but I could not."

Massa's race was wrecked when he spun on lap eight, narrowly missing Alonso's Renault as he skidded sideways past the Spaniard, and then pitted.

There was confusion in the Ferrari pits as mechanics struggled to remove the rear right tyre with a faulty pneumatic wheel gun. The Brazilian was kept waiting 46.8 seconds before rejoining the race among the tailenders.

He finished ninth.