BMW Sauber flex their muscles in Malaysia

By John O'Brien

SEPANG, Malaysia (Reuters) - BMW Sauber emerged as genuine Formula One contenders in Malaysia on Sunday after Robert Kubica gave the team their second runner-up finish in two races.

The Pole enjoyed a smooth run behind race winner Kimi Raikkonen, inheriting second spot from the world champion's Ferrari team mate Felipe Massa after the Brazilian spun off into the gravel on lap 31.

Facing little challenge from the McLarens of Heikki Kovalainen (third) and Lewis Hamilton (fifth), Kubica was able to match the second place his German team mate Nick Heidfeld took in last week's Australian season-opener.

Heidfeld was sixth at Sepang and the pair have earned 19 points for BMW from the first two races, leaving them second in the constructors' standings and five points behind McLaren. Champions Ferrari are third on 11 points.

"It's a fantastic day for the team," Kubica told reporters after securing his best result, and second podium finish, in Formula One since joining the class in late 2006.

"After Monza two years ago, I finally managed to get another podium for myself.

"I didn't have a good start because of too much wheel spin, and I was fighting with Nick (Heidfeld) and Jarno Trulli (of Toyota).," he said.

"I took the dirty inside line and almost lost the car but managed to get through the corner and overtake them. From then on I drove my own pace."