USGP Podium, Texas-Style

Lewis Hamilton won the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas after a tight battle for the entire race with Sebastian Vettel, as Fernando Alonso brilliant start and remarkable podium finish kept the title fight alive. Hamilton’s McLaren tracked Vettel’s Red Bull throughout the first 2/3 of the GP and finally passed him, after the defending World Champion was balked by an HRT back-marker, with 14 laps to go.

Alonso’s 3rd place means he is 13 points behind Vettel in the standings. The title will now be settled in the final race of the 2012 season in Brazil [Interlagos] next weekend,  with 25 points available for victory. For Alonso to win the drivers’ crown, he needs a victory in Brazil with Vettel finishing lower than fourth.

Lewis Hamilton beats Sebastian Vettel in United States GP, Alonso third | BBC Sport.

An exuberant crowd of 117,429 — including this blogger — packed the new, purpose-built Circuit of the Americas in a vibrant display of American, Mexican and South American loyalty to F1. Bernie, take note!