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<b>STILL IN THE FIGHT?</b> Fernando Alonso (left) reckons he still has a change at the 2012 F1 GP title over Sebastian Vettel (right). <i>Image: AFP</i>
GREATER NOIDA, India - Ferrari's Fernando Alonso lost a race but looked forward to winning the championship war despite falling further behind Red Bull's overall leader Sebastian Vettel after Sunday's Indian F1 GP.
Alonso, trailing Vettel by six points before landing in India, drove an aggressive race at the Buddh circuit to finish second - three places up from where he started but still behind winner Vettel.
It was, the Spaniard recognised, damage limitation with everything still to play for up to the final 2012 race in Brazil in November.
'WE'LL NEVER GIVE UP'
The gap, after Vettel's fourth successive win, is now 13 points with three rounds to go.
"It's not easy at the moment to fight with Red Bull but we will never give up," Alonso vowed. "I think we are happy today, we have to congratulate them, they were fantastic this weekend so well done Red Bull, well done Sebastian."
The Spaniard, the only top 10 driver to improve his grid position in Sunday's race, said before the race that he was "100% confident" that he could win the title and he saw no reason to change that view afterwards.
"Of course," he emphasised after notching up his 10th podium finish of the season.
The Spaniard, a double champion with Renault, said there was some room for improvement in the qualifications but he was pretty much in the hunt. "We know we need to improve. We are not fast enough, especially on Saturdays, but I hope we can improve the situation in Abu Dhabi or in the USA.
"The races are long and as we saw today with (Red Bull's) Mark (Webber), a kers problem can happen to anyone. It can happen to Seb, it can happen to me, it can happen to all of us. Still many points on the table and I'm still very optimistic."
SECOND KEEPS RIVALS WORRIED
Ferrari will have some updates in Abu Dhabi and Alonso should also go well in the season-ender.
Team principal Stefano Domenicali predicted Alonso's second place would keep his rivals worried and compared his driver's chances to Italy winning the 1982 soccer World Cup against stronger opponents.
"This second place is all down to his talent, to his aggressive approach and the fact that he never wants to give up, backed by a team that is doing the maximum to give him a car worthy of him," he said.
"Sure we leave India with a bigger gap to the leader of the Drivers' championship but this race should not leave those who are ahead in a calm and relaxed mood."
Alonso, trailing Vettel by six points before landing in India, drove an aggressive race at the Buddh circuit to finish second - three places up from where he started but still behind winner Vettel.
It was, the Spaniard recognised, damage limitation with everything still to play for up to the final 2012 race in Brazil in November.
'WE'LL NEVER GIVE UP'
The gap, after Vettel's fourth successive win, is now 13 points with three rounds to go.
"It's not easy at the moment to fight with Red Bull but we will never give up," Alonso vowed. "I think we are happy today, we have to congratulate them, they were fantastic this weekend so well done Red Bull, well done Sebastian."
The Spaniard, the only top 10 driver to improve his grid position in Sunday's race, said before the race that he was "100% confident" that he could win the title and he saw no reason to change that view afterwards.
"Of course," he emphasised after notching up his 10th podium finish of the season.
The Spaniard, a double champion with Renault, said there was some room for improvement in the qualifications but he was pretty much in the hunt. "We know we need to improve. We are not fast enough, especially on Saturdays, but I hope we can improve the situation in Abu Dhabi or in the USA.
"The races are long and as we saw today with (Red Bull's) Mark (Webber), a kers problem can happen to anyone. It can happen to Seb, it can happen to me, it can happen to all of us. Still many points on the table and I'm still very optimistic."
SECOND KEEPS RIVALS WORRIED
Ferrari will have some updates in Abu Dhabi and Alonso should also go well in the season-ender.
Team principal Stefano Domenicali predicted Alonso's second place would keep his rivals worried and compared his driver's chances to Italy winning the 1982 soccer World Cup against stronger opponents.
"This second place is all down to his talent, to his aggressive approach and the fact that he never wants to give up, backed by a team that is doing the maximum to give him a car worthy of him," he said.
"Sure we leave India with a bigger gap to the leader of the Drivers' championship but this race should not leave those who are ahead in a calm and relaxed mood."
