On This Day: Senna holds off Alesi in Phoenix thriller

Ayrton Senna picked up a signature win at the United States Grand Prix on this day 28 years ago. The dominant McLaren was given a run for its money around the Phoenix street circuit, however, as Jean Alesi came close to an upset win for Tyrrell.

Senna would go on to be crowned champion at the end of a 1990 season which started with a bang Stateside.

There was a McLaren on pole position, but it was that of Gerhard Berger after a rain-affected qualifying, with Alesi managing to get into fourth position after the Saturday session was washed out. Senna began the race in fifth.

Alesi was just racing in F1 for the ninth time, but pulled off a spectacular start, cruising past Andrea de Cesaris before out-braking Berger and Pierluigi Martini for the lead.

De Cesaris was no match for Senna, who soon caught the back of his team-mate Berger, who was losing time to Alesi.

On lap nine, Senna made his move, capitalising on a Berger error to begin the chase of Alesi from over eight seconds behind.

Senna remained calm, gradually reeling in Alesi before finally passing his man on lap 34.

But any suggestion that Senna would then simply drive up the road were dispelled as Alesi immediately dived down the inside of the next turn to retake the lead.

Alesi's lead would last just one lap, with Senna pulling off an identical move to go in front again, this time successfully holding off the Frenchman's advances, prompting the Tyrrell man to eventually back off.

Though he later encountered engine trouble, Senna would ease to his first of six victories of a successful season, while Alesi held onto second, his first podium finish.