SEPANG: Kimi Raikkonen cruised to victory in Malaysia on Sunday to put Ferrari back on the winning track and slash Lewis Hamilton's lead to three points.World champion Raikkonen failed to finish last weekend's season-opener in Australia but the Finn sealed his 16th grand prix victory when he took the lead from team mate Felipe Massa at the first set of pitstops.
BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica finished second, the best result of the Pole's Formula One career so far. McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen was third with British team mate Hamilton having to settle for fifth.
Massa's race came to an end on lap 31 when the Brazilian, who started on pole position with Raikkonen alongside on an all-Ferrari front row, spun out at turn eight and could not escape the gravel trap.
"It was a pretty easy race from that first pitstop really," said Raikkonen.
"We had quite a difficult weekend in Australia and we were not 100 percent sure it was going to be any different here.
"But everything worked perfectly. This is a good start to the season for us and we're in a pretty good position," added the Finn, who scored a point in Australia after only seven cars were left running at the finish and one of those was disqualified.
Hamilton, who started ninth on the grid after he and Kovalainen collected five-place penalties for impeding rivals in qualifying, finished behind Italian Jarno Trulli, who took a fine fourth place for Toyota.
Nick Heidfeld (BMW), Mark Webber (Red Bull) and Spain's double world champion Fernando Alonso (Renault) collected the rest of the points.
Hamilton, who won in Melbourne, was fifth at the end of the first lap but could not find a way past Australian Webber.
Problems in removing the McLaren's right front wheel at the first pitstop cost Hamilton 20 seconds and ultimately wrecked his chances of catching the leaders.
"I was pushing Mark for a long, long time but being behind someone is extremely difficult so it doesn't matter how much quicker you are, it makes it extremely difficult to get past," said the 23-year-old.
"And then we were in with a good shot for third place and then we had the wheel gun at the pitstop."
Kubica savoured BMW's second runners-up spot in a row following Heidfeld's superb finish at Albert Park last week, but said his team had to rein-in their expectations.
"It was a fantastic result for the team," said the Pole. "I think we have to be happy with our place now, because at the start of the season it didn't look so good," he added.
The 23-year-old conceded BMW were still trailing Ferrari in terms of performance but was surprised McLaren, who dominated last year's race in Malaysia with a one-two finish, had not posed more of a challenge.
Kovalainen, on the podium for only the second time in a career spanning just 19 grands prix, said McLaren had a lot to be proud of after being hit by the penalties on Saturday.
The Finn qualified third fastest but started from eighth because of the five-place drop.
"After yesterday's penalty it was going to be a hard day for us. We have to be pleased with the results," he said. "We'd like to be a couple of places higher but today, this was the maximum we could do."
Hamilton leads the championship with 14 points after two races, ahead of Raikkonen and Heidfeld with 11. Massa has yet to score a point.
The next race is in Bahrain on April 6. - Reuters
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Owen can fire England and Newcastle: Keegan
NEWCASTLE: Michael Owen deserves to lead the line for Newcastle and England according to Kevin Keegan.
Newcastle manager Keegan insists his captain and leading goalscorer is fully fit and in top form ahead of England's friendly against France on Wednesday.
And a second goal in successive games, sealing a 2-0 victory for the Magpies against Fulham at St James' Park on Saturday, provided England coach Fabio Capello with a timely reminder that he still boasts the poacher's instinct which has underpinned a prolific career.
The former Real Madrid and Liverpool forward was left on the bench for Capello's first match and could suffer the same fate in Paris, but Keegan said:
"Michael would be in most peoples' England team.
"If you look at Michael's goal that was a typical Owen finish. He's just the best in the world at that.
"You might want to put other names forward but in terms of nipping in ahead of his marker he's the best that there is. People keep questioning all sorts of things with these great players but they keep answering back.
"Michael's probably answered a few more critics and there are plenty of them out there as far as I can see.
"He is totally committed and he's led this team fantastically. He's a great skipper and not just because of all the things he shouts but because of the example that he sets.
"He's a team player and we've asked him to play a different role. He's not told me that he doesn't play there, he's just got on with it and said yes, OK."
It's true that Owen's deeper role in a Newcastle side desperately seeking the points required to save their Premier League status is unfamiliar to those who have followed his England career closely.
However, the experienced striker appears to be thriving under Keegan and his former England manager added: "I've been saying for a long time what I think of Michael Owen.
"He'd certainly be in most peoples' England sides and what he needs is to get a club that is successful and scores goals.
"He's definitely in form. I keep hearing that Michael is not as sharp as he was but I think that's been dispelled with his goals at Birmingham and against Fulham.
"Michael will just keep doing what he does and his record for Newcastle must be nearly a goal every two games. That's a hell of a strike rate for someone who's had an interrupted time at this club with injuries."
Keegan will now be hoping Owen returns from this week's match in Paris in the same physical shape which has seen him spearhead Newcastle's long-awaited revival.
Alongside Australian international Viduka and the Nigerian forward Obafemi Martins he has emerged as one third of a potentially potent trio of attackers quite capable of carrying United well clear of the bottom three.
Viduka opened the scoring against Fulham in the sixth minute and Owen sealed Newcastle's first win under Keegan, after nine attempts in the league, when he slotted home in the 83rd minute.
There is no doubt Saturday's victory has lifted spirits on Tyneside and Keegan added: "Whilst the win doesn't mean we're out of danger it takes the pressure off everyone at the club.
"The players' abilities have been questioned and my ability as a manager has been questioned but that's what you lay yourself open to if you don't get results. More than anything it gives everyone a boost." - AFP
