Hamilton wins in Japan as Alonso crashes

FUJI, Japan, Sep 30 (Reuters) McLaren's Lewis Hamilton won the Japanese Grand Prix today to take a huge step towards becoming the first rookie to win the Formula One championship.

While the 22-year-old Briton celebrated his fourth victory of an extraordinary debut season, his closest rival and double world champion team mate Fernando Alonso crashed out of an action-packed, rainswept race.

The result left Hamilton with a 12-point advantage over Alonso with only the Chinese and Brazilian Grands Prix remaining.

REUTERS BJR AS1229