Jordan’s Narain Karthikeyan of India speeds ahead of Minardi drivers Patrick Friesacher (left) and Christijan Albers during the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang on Sunday. (Reuters)

Sepang: Spaniard Fernando Alonso won the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday to give Renault their second win in a row after two rounds of the Formula One championship.

The 23-year-old?s second career victory followed team mate Giancarlo Fisichella?s win in Australia two weeks ago and made him the first Spaniard ever to lead the championship.

While Renault celebrated, once-dominant champions Ferrari again struggled to score points with seven times champion Michael Schumacher finishing seventh and Brazilian Rubens Barrichello retiring.

Italian Jarno Trulli took second place for Toyota, ecstatic with their first podium finish since they entered Formula One in 2002, 24.3 seconds behind Alonso.

Germany?s Nick Heidfeld finished third for Williams after starting tenth.

Alonso?s winning time was one hour 31 minutes and 33.736 seconds. He has 16 points to Fisichella?s 10 while Renault lead the Constructor?s standings with 26 points to Toyota?s 12.

?The team showed again that they are the team to beat,? said Alonso, whose labours in the stifling heat were compounded by a faulty drink bottle. ?This is one of the best races to win for me, the most technical circuit, most difficult and best of the championship for me.?

Renault?s hopes of a second double podium in-a-row disappeared 18 laps from the finish when Fisichella, running third, collided with the overtaking Williams of Australian Mark Webber.

While Alonso took the chequered flag after starting from pole position, Ferrari and Schumacher struggled in the hottest race on the calendar.

The German, who failed to finish the Australian season-opener, could at least console himself with two points at a favourite Ferrari circuit where he has won more times than any other driver.

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya was fourth for McLaren with Toyota?s Ralf Schumacher fifth.

Briton David Coulthard, whose deal is heavily cash for points, added to his bank balance with sixth place for newcomers Red Bull. The three points made the Scot the highest scoring British driver in Formula One history, taking his tally to 483. Nigel Mansell, the 1992 champion, had 482 although the scoring system was different then.

Austrian Christian Klien finished eighth, Red Bull?s second successive double scoring finish.

The biggest celebrations were at Toyota, who had not previously finished higher than fifth in any race. ?We still have some work to do but it is definitely nice to be here,? said Trulli, winner in Monaco for Renault last season.

Neither of the BARs lasted more than three laps, both Briton Jenson Button and compatriot Anthony Davidson pulling over with smoking engines.

McLaren?s Kimi Raikkonen, the 2003 race winner who led for a lap after the first pit-stops, had his race scuppered by a rear right tyre failure that left him limping back to the pits on three wheels.

Just 13 of the 20 cars finished the race.

Provisional results and standings

PROVISIONAL RESULTS

1. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Renault 1::31:33.736 (average speed 203.407kmph); 2. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Toyota 1:31:58.063; 3. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) Williams 1:32:05.924; 4. Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) McLaren 1:32:15.367; 5. Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Toyota 1:32:25.590; 6. David Coulthard (Britain) Red Bull 1:32:46.279; 7. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari 1:32:53.724; 8. Christian Klien (Austria) Red Bull 1:32:54.571; 9. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) McLaren 1:32:55.316; 10. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Sauber one lap behind; 11. Narain Karthikeyan (India) Jordan two laps; 12. Tiago Monteiro (Portugal) Jordan three laps; 13. Christijan Albers (Netherlands) Minardi four laps

Not classified

• Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Ferrari 49 laps completed • Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Renault 36 laps m Mark Webber (Australia) Williams 36 laps • Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) Sauber 26 laps • Jenson Button (Britain) BAR two laps • Anthony Davidson (Japan) BAR two laps • Patrick Friesacher (Austria) Minardi two laps

Fastest lap: Raikkonen: 1:35.483, 208.987 kmph (lap 23)

STANDINGS DRIVERS

1. Fernando Alonso Renault 16 points; 2. Giancarlo Fisichella Renault 10; 3. Jarno Trulli Toyota, Rubens Barrichello Ferrari, David Coulthard Red Bull, Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) McLaren (all 8); 7. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) Williams 6; 8. Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Toyota, Mark Webber (Australia) Williams (both 4); 10. Christian Klien (Austria) Red Bull 3; 11. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari 2; 12. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) McLaren 1

CONSTRUCTORS

1. Renault 26 points; 2. Toyota 12; 3. Red Bull 11; 4. Ferrari 10; 5. Williams 10; 6. McLaren 9