Though Hamilton recovered to seventh, Raikkonen took the chequered flag to snatch the title by a single point.
Though he recovered to seventh, Raikkonen took the chequered flag and with it the championship by a single point.
The two cars brushed wheels and Hamilton reclaimed the lead, which he held on to up to and beyond the chequered flag.
With 25 points for a win, the German therefore needed to take the chequered flag in first place and hope Alonso finished no higher than fifth.
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The veteran Brazilian is still looking for his first win of the season, while team-mate Jenson Button has taken the chequered flag six times.
Eventually Huff also overtook him on lap 10, but he was able to keep fellow BMW driver Jorg Muller behind him up to the chequered flag.
It was a second straight win both for the victorious trio of Biela, Pirro and Werner - who took the chequered flag - and Audi diesel power.
As well as moving him to within a second-place finish of winning his first world championship, Elias revealed that he had an extra motivation to take the chequered flag.
Hamilton clinched the title when he passed Timo Glock accelerating out of the final corner of the race to snatch the drivers' crown from Felipe Massa, who took the chequered flag ahead of him.
As the chequered flag was waved to end qualifying for Sunday's 60-lap race on the 6.513km road course, both of the drivers were near the back of the track, pushing for a final quick plap.
His race went from bad to worse as a gearbox problem left him at the back of the field and, though he recovered to seventh, Raikkonen took the chequered flag to snatch the title by a single point.
The Woodhall Spa rider finished ahead of Bruce Anstey in the first race although it ended amid confusion with the officials failing to wave the chequered flag which led to Plater and Anstey continuing to ride hard for over half-a-lap before realising that the race was over.
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After all, Facebook's record on privacy matters is as chequered as the flag that marks the end of a Formula One race.
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