Fisichella leads Renault one-two

SEPANG, Malaysia, Mar 19 (Reuters) Italian Giancarlo Fisichella won the Malaysian Grand Prix ahead of world champion Fernando Alonso today for Renault's first one-two finish in 24 years.

The 33-year-old Roman, who started on pole position, took his third career victory and first since last season's Formula One season-opener in Australia.

Fisichella finished 4.5 seconds ahead of his Spanish team mate, with Briton Jenson Button, still chasing his first career win after 102 grands prix, rounding out the podium for Honda.

It was the French manufacturer's first one-two since Frenchmen Rene Arnoux and Alain Prost did it in front of their home fans at Le Castellet in the turbo era of 1982.

''It was a tough race, physically and mentally, but...the car balance was just fantastic,'' said Fisichella, who paid his respects afterwards to a boyhood friend who died in an accident a week ago.

''It was an emotional weekend for me and it was important to do my best because I lost a friend of mine,'' he said. ''I would like to dedicate the race to him. Ciao Pietro.'' Alonso, who won the opening race in Bahrain last week, remains the championship leader with 18 points to the 11 of Ferrari's seven-times champion Michael Schumacher -- who finished seventh -- and Button.

''For me it's the perfect start to the championship,'' said Alonso. ''Eighteen points in two races is what I dreamed of before Bahrain.'' More Reuters PM GC1507