OYAMA, Shizuoka Pref. — McLaren's Lewis Hamilton won a rain-lashed Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday to move closer to clinching the world crown in his debut season in Formula One.
Hamilton kept his cool in a wet and wild race at Fuji Speedway to move 12 points ahead of teammate and bitter rival Fernando Alonso, who spun out of the race.
Heikki Kovalainen earned outgoing constructors' champion Renault its first podium finish of the year with an impressive second, while fellow Finn Kimi Raikkonen took third to stay in with a shout for the title.