Raikkonen’s misfortune boosts Alonso

Fernando Alonso recovered from a first-corner bump Sunday and then was handed a gift – a spectacular tire blowout by Kimi Raikkonen on the last lap in a riveting finish to the European Grand Prix in Nuerburgring, Germany.

It was the fourth victory of the season for Alonso, the Formula One leader, and fifth of his career in a Renault.

Raikkonen’s tire began to bend with two laps left in a race Raikkonen led from the first curve. But as he gunned across the line to start the last lap, the tire flew into the air and bounced on his hood while Raikkonen spun and hit a retaining wall.

“We were very lucky today, but we were very strong also,” Alonso said.

Nick Heidfeld, on the pole, was 16.5 seconds behind in a Williams-BMW, his second straight runner-up finish. Rubens Barrichello was in third in a Ferrari, 18.5 seconds back, his first top-three result since the season opener.

Michael Schumacher was fifth, his second-best finish this season.

NHRA

Australia’s Dave Grubnic become the first driver from outside North America to win an NHRA Top Fuel event, beating Larry Dixon in the final of the O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka in Topeka, Kan.

Grubnic had a quarter-mile run of 4.600 seconds and a top speed of 320.28 mph.

John Force (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) each raced to their third straight victories.