STORY OF THE DAY: Räikkönen Holds Off Fisichella at Spa

Kimi Raikkonen won the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps in the number 4 Ferrari F60. Starting sixth, he defeated Force India’s Giancarlo Fisichella by less than a second, giving Ferrari its only victory of the season. Sebastian Vettel completed the podium in the twelfth round of the World Championship.

Raikkonen gained ground immediately, surviving a turbulent opening lap and using the Kinetic Energy Recovery System to pass Fisichella after an early safety-car restart. The Force India remained close and was exceptionally fast through Spa’s high-speed sections, but Raikkonen defended the lead without error and denied Fisichella a remarkable victory from pole position.

Named to mark Ferrari’s 60th year in the Formula One World Championship, the F60 was built around the extensively revised 2009 aerodynamic regulations. It used Ferrari’s 2.4-litre Tipo 056 V8 and incorporated a KERS installation that supplied a brief electrical power boost, particularly valuable for acceleration and overtaking at Spa.

Born in Espoo, Finland, Raikkonen reached Formula One with Sauber in 2001 and became an established winner with McLaren. He joined Ferrari in 2007 and captured the World Championship in his first season with the team. Renowned for his affinity with Spa, he delivered Ferrari’s sole success of a difficult 2009 campaign.