Raikkonen wins Malaysian Grand Prix

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, March 23 (UPI) -- Kimi Raikkonen won Sunday's Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix in Kuala Lumpur, finishing nearly 20 seconds ahead of Robert Kubica.

The victory on the 3.4-mile Sepang Circuit was the first this season and 16th of the Finnish driver's F1 career.

It possibly erased memories of his eighth-place finish in last Sunday's season-opening race, the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

Raikkonen took the lead from pole-sitter and teammate Felipe Massa after their first pit stops, then went the distance to a victory that vaulted him back into contention for a second straight F1 points title.

"Once (Massa) went into the pits my car got much better because when you are one or two seconds behind it is a massive difference," Raikkonen said. "I was able to go much quicker on my in-lap and I could pass him. After that I was able to pull away."

Kubica drove a BMW Sauber and Heikki Kovlainen, driving a McLaren, finished third.