Alonso wins F1 race in Singapore

SINGAPORE, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- Fernando Alonso broke a year-long winless streak by winning Sunday's Formula One Singapore Grand Prix auto race.

It was the first F1 race run ever on a Sunday night.

The victory was Alonso's 20th in his F1 career, but his first since the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Italy, last September.

Renault's best-known driver started the race in the 15th position because mechanical problems plagued him during Saturday's qualifying session.

He crossed the finish line 2.9 seconds ahead of Nico Rosberg (Williams).

Alonso established an 8-second lead over Rosberg by Lap 39 after pole-winner Felipe Massa jumped out to a good start and built a nearly three-second lead by the fifth lap.

"This is a fantastic result," Alonso said. "(It's) my first podium of the season, my first victory and I'm very happy. I think it will take several days for me to realize what we have achieved."

Lewis Hamilton (McLaren), Timo Glock (Toyota), and Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso) completed the top-five finishers.