ASHES A HERO Often maligned as a driver whose greatest value was not his pace and skill but the budget he brings to the Williams formula one team, Pastor Maldonado took just 66 laps to reshape his reputation in Spain. In just over 90 minutes last Sunday, the Venezuelan went from that occasionally wild guy who bought his drive - with an estimated $40 million from the state-owned PDVSA oil giant - to a grand prix winner. The quietly spoken Maldonado's triumph created an instant outbreak of jubilation in a country that hasn't produced F1 racers in abundance. He became the first Venezuelan to win in F1, and landed the hitherto struggling Williams team its first victory for nearly eight years. His coolness under pressure from the pursuing Fernando Alonso was also impressive. The Williams victory was also received heartily around the GP paddock. Sir Frank Williams is a true racer who has fallen on (relatively) hard times in recent years in a business judged entirely by success. Sir Frank was also quick to suggest Maldonado's win was no fluke. Acknowledging his driver's massive sponsorship, he was quick to add: "We've got a real racing driver as well. I am just astonished by the way he just controlled himself, didn't make a mistake at all." A close friend of the President, Hugo Chavez, the 27-year-old could not have plotted a better day. Not even a post-race fire that engulfed the Williams garage could pull attention away from Maldonado - he