'TWAS THE SEASON; Formula One shook itself up-finally-in 2005.(Special Report)

Byline: NIGEL ROEBUCK

Oct. 9, Suzuka, lap 20.

As Michael Schumacher approached 130R, one of the most daunting corners in racing, Fernando Alonso, to his right, was gaining. Schumacher held his line: Not many people overtake there, and no one does it on the outside.

Alonso did. At close to 200 mph he never blinked, pitching into the corner as if he had it all to himself. A piece of pure Schumacher, if you like-and Schumacher was smart enough to recognize it and get off the throttle. He would have held his ground against most, but Alonso is not to be intimidated.

Perhaps, then, the torch was passed. For the first time in six years someone other than Schumacher won the F1 title. Alonso, at 24, is the youngest driver-and the first Spaniard-ever to do so.

A cursory glance at the season might suggest the title was won by stealth rath- er than speed, but that sells Alonso short. He often went into races looking for good points, but usually his Renault was not the quickest car, and it was a matter of knowing what to do when. Thus he may have backed out of it with Juan Montoya at Silverstone and Interlagos, but not-once the title was clinched-with Schumacher at Suzuka.

McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen was Alonso's major rival, but while Raikkonen is a match for anyone on raw speed, Alonso is the more complete driver, always ready to pounce. Without Alonso's pressure at the Nurburgring, Raikkonen could have babied his car to the finish rather than retiring due to suspension failure; without it at Istanbul, Mon-toya may not have run afoul of a backmarker.