Raikkonen nails 4th Belgian Grand Prix plum

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium – Kimi Raikkonen held off Force India driver Giancarlo Fisichella to win Formula One’s Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, the Ferrari driver’s fourth triumph at the high-speed track in the past five years.

The 2007 world champion, who started sixth, overtook pole sitter Fisichella immediately after the safety car came in following accidents on the opening lap – including one involving overall F1 leader Jenson Button – and held on for a 0.9-second victory.

Championship contender Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull, who had retired with engine failures in the last two races, finished third to gain on Button.

Button failed to finish in the points for the first time, and Rubens Barrichello moved within 16 points of his Brawn GP teammate after finishing seventh despite an oil leak that had the car belching blue smoke with two laps to go. Barrichello’s car caught fire as he drove into the pit lane.

Button leads the drivers’ standings with 72 points, followed by Barrichello with 56 and Vettel with 53. Mark Webber of Red Bull, who finished ninth after a drive-through penalty, trails by 20.5 points.

“This championship is a little crazy, to be honest,” Vettel said after the Austrian team had also cut Brawn GP’s constructors’ series lead to 23.5 points. “It’s up and down. (But) we’re still in reach.”

Raikkonen picked up his first win since last year’s Spanish GP in a season made unpredictable by rule changes. The Finn is the sixth straight different winner of an F1 race.

“It’s a proper circuit, an old-style circuit,” said Raikkonen, who clinched Ferrari’s fifth win in seven races at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. “It’s just been good to me.” (AP)