Evergreen Schumacher back in the driving seat

SHANGHAI, Oct 2 (Reuters) Ferrari's Michael Schumacher could be celebrating a record eighth Formula One title in Japan this weekend after roaring back on top for the first time since 2004.

The German, fresh from the 91st win of his career in China and just two races away from retirement, does not expect it to pan out that way, however, and nor does his Renault rival Fernando Alonso.

Both left Shanghai level-pegging on points -- but with Schumacher 7-6 ahead on race wins -- and convinced their duel will continue all the way to the final chequered flag in Brazil on Oct. 22 after yesterday's penultimate round at Suzuka.

''It's quite a miracle that we're there,'' said Schumacher after completing a remarkable comeback by beating Alonso into second place in Shanghai.

''Now we go to the last two races and I believe that we will have to wait until the last one before a decision can be reached.

''It's going to be an interesting couple of weeks that we are going to have to face. I really look forward to that,'' added the 37-year-old, the oldest man on the starting grid.

World champion Alonso was 25 points ahead of Schumacher after Canada in June but will lose his crown at Suzuka if he fails to score and the German wins -- as happened at last month's Italian Grand Prix.

NO EXCUSES Renault, back in front by a point in the constructors' championship, and Alonso are confident that level of misfortune will not happen again. yesterday, they simply got it wrong.

''We are making no excuses today, this is a race we should have won because the Renault and its Michelin tyres were dominant in all conditions,'' engineering head Pat Symonds said yesterday.

''His (Alonso's) podium finish, though, gave us the means to re-take the lead in the constructors' championship and that fact shows that we have the performance to win both titles.

''We now go to the final races with renewed confidence.

Today showed that the Renault is the fastest car out there. We fully intend to make use of it in the final two races of what is proving to be a thrilling title showdown.'' Both contenders have said repeatedly that the championship will be decided by tyres and there was nobody arguing with that in Shanghai. Tyres, and tyre choices, dictated the outcome of the race.

While Alonso's team mate Giancarlo Fisichella and Schumacher stayed out on unchanged tyres after the first pitstop, the Spaniard's badly worn fronts were replaced.

It was the wrong decision as he found out on returning to a drying track, still in the lead but unable to hold off the two men behind him who had not changed their tyres.

''It took eight or nine laps to really wear the tyres enough to be quick on the nearly dry circuit,'' the 25-year-old said.

''It was a bad day but this is a fantastic fight for the championship and I go to Japan feeling really confident,'' he added. ''We had the quickest car today and we have two more good chances to win.

''I believe we can do it.'' REUTERS PM RN1152