Associated Press

Magny Cours, July 3:

Formula One leader Fernando Alonso won the French Grand Prix in a dominant display from the pole position. The Renault driver, who has now won five of the season’s 10 races, recorded his sixth career win. Kimi Raikkonen and seven-time champion Michael Schumacher finished second and third, respectively. It was the first time the Renault team had won the French GP since 1983, and it came when there was no French driver in the field. The first time in 40 years. Alonso led from the start and was never challenged. Such was his dominance that he built on his lead despite taking three pit stops compared to Raikkonen’s two. Alonso now has 69 points in the overall standings, followed by Raikkonen (45) and Schumacher (40). Jenson Button took first points for BAR-Honda with a fourth-place finish. Toyota’s Trulli ended up fifth. Alonso’s teammate, Giancarlo Fisic-hella, was sixth. Ralf Schumacher in a Toyota was seventh, and Jacques Villeneuve of Sauber was eighth. The French GP marked the beginning of the series’ second half of the season. There are nine races left.