ATLAS F1   Volume 6, Issue 25 Email to Friend   Printable Version
Atlas F1   The Canadian GP Review
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, June 16-18, 2000 by Michele Lupini, South Africa

Schumacher drives to his 40th winMichael Schumacher bounced back from losing his iron grip on the 2000 FIA World Drivers Championship at Monte Carlo with a dominant victory at the Canadian GP. The former two-time world champion led off another pole position to win a flag to flag victory.

Yes, his job was eased by David Coulthard's ongoing bad luck and an adventurous Jacques Villeneuve holding Schumacher's Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello and Mika Hakkinen's McLaren back, but the German nonetheless had it all his own way in Montreal.

The McLarens and Ferraris were once again the class of the field, but once dialled in, there was almost nothing to choose between them as the top four battled for pole in a thrilling qualifying. Coulthard snatched provisional pole from what would have been an all Ferrari front row by nine thousandths of a second on his last lap, but as luck would have it, Michael Schumacher was out even later to repay the compliment.

While qualifying up front was brilliant, the balance in the top ten seemed to shift slightly in Canada. Williams was absent from the top ten while Jacques Villeneuve and Ricardo Zonta were noticeable in their combined presence in the BARs, as was Pedro de la Rosa's brilliant ninth. Fisichella too seems to be making a habit of being in the top ten as the year continues.

McLaren celebrate their 500th GP prior to the raceThe race in Canada was a procession, but it provided drama enough to entertain even F1's harshest critics.

Despite Coulthard's insistence that he could have won, you make your own luck in F1. So despite having one of the quickest cars on the track, if you stall your engine and your team lets you down by tending to your car while they shouldn't be there, just like if the car changes dimension out of regulation, you are bound to be penalised.

David has lost twelve points this year through penalties (sixteen points in his view), which would have meant that he and his team would have been significantly closer to their opposition than they are now. But they are not.

The Scotsman has had a hell of a year, but it seems to be working in his favour – even Michael Schumacher is starting to wonder who his biggest rival is right now.

The first cornerBut Michael showed an even temperament all weekend, even trusting his loyal teammate to stay back at the finish when Rubens sailed up behind on the last lap – he could have easily snatched it. Perhaps that's why David so strongly believes he could have won. But then only Michael will know if that's true or not.

So Schumacher had it all his own way, perhaps not all by his own doing, but it certainly looked easy. Barrichello, once rid of the BAR obstruction that spoiled the first half of his, Hakkinen and de la Rosa's races, was most impressive. Despite having to wait for tyres when he pitted for wets immediately after Ferrari had finished with Schumacher, Rubens was clearly the class of the field in the wet, whittling down a massive gap to shadow his teammate at the flag.

This cannot be very good news for a seemingly shell-shocked McLaren, as the second Ferrari now threatens their fragile second and third positions in the title race.

Villeneuve leads Barrichello and HakkinenGiancarlo Fisichella got it all right in Canada. Running behind the BAR/Jordan squabble (which lost Frentzen with more Jordan trannie trouble quite early), Giancarlo ran a very long first section, long enough that it started raining hard just as he pitted. This ensured that he was the only car to stop just once, gaining an automatic 25-second advantage over the rest. He found himself second, but sucumbed to a blistering Barrichello. That left him third, on the podium for the second race in a row and for the third time in his relatively short career at circuit Notre Dame.

Benetton now seems to have regained control of the top end of division two, Wurz too showing well and being bumped out of the points by the charging Verstappen. With its impending transformation into Renault, this is another team to keep an eye on.

While Barrichello seemed to be all charged up in Canada, the same cannot be said for Mika Hakkinen. Fisichella leads the midpackThe Finn did his job – but not with the verve and tiger-like fight expected of him. He passed Villeneuve eventually, setting the fastest lap of the race shortly after that, but besides an inspired charge to try to catch Fisichella toward the end, his fourth position was essentially what Mika deserved. Could it be that after all, he is satisfied with his incredible double-championships? With Coulthard in the ascendancy and wife Erja expecting his first baby, it may well be that some of Mika's motivation could be focussed elsewhere right now.

Arrows had a great weekend. Pedro de la Rosa was in the qualifying top ten once again and took the fight to the F1 superheroes after dealing with the Jordans and BARs – albeit with a lighter fuel load. But Jos Verstappen had to take over the Arrows glory baton at mid distance after Pedro was ditched by Diniz.

While many drivers found it difficult to pass in the murky conditions, the Dutchman, like his teammate, was scintillating - fighting his way past Zonta, Ralf, Wurz and Trulli to claim two brilliantly earned points.

Barrichello passes VilleneuveArrows seem to understand how to operate at the upper side of midfield as they dabble with moving to the front and improve on every front. The have, however, fallen into the same trap that Stewart did last year, building a car with a fuel tank insufficient to manage just one stop in a race distance. If that were sorted, they would be able to concentrate on fighting at an even playing field.

Jarno Trulli was the only one of the Honda-Mugen quartet to make it to the finish in the points, although harassed by Coulthard in the end. Jarno looked good on a lighter fuel load toward the end of his first stint, but appeared to lack confidence – especially on the brakes - in the wet. He was, nonetheless, in the points again after a difficult race.

Once he'd served his ten-second sentence, Coulthard had to re-learn all about racing in the midfield. He was faced with spinning in avoidance of an errant Arrows, banging wheels to gain position and fighting it out over the gravel with Alex Wurz and otherwise sitting in line with little chance to pass as conditions worsened consistently. Character building? Perhaps. But David has shown himself to be right there this year.

Jos VerstappenOf the rest, Zonta made a few wrong decisions to lose out on a possible points finish in eighth, while Wurz battled along to finish ninth, spending almost as much time off the track as on it. Diniz remained tenth despite being slapped with a 25-second penalty for disposing of de la Rosa, while Jenson Button spent his race battling with Minardis, eventually defeating Mazzacane for eleventh.

Eddie Irvine was thirteenth, in what must have been a desperate, damp Sunday drive for him after being stranded on the grid. It'll be another weekend he and the team will want to forget.

Jacques Villeneuve was the most significant retirement after causing so much anguish for McLaren. But F1's worst losers will have to admit that Jacques out-drove their world champion and Barrichello off the line to hold them up for the first half of the race. Jacques lost his way around the pit stops and became embroiled in that rich midfield battle, retiring when he attacked Coulthard so hard that he managed to take out Ralf Schumacher in front of David.

The top finishers at parc fermeRalf had a poor weekend by his standards, accepting a sheepish Villeneuve's apologies after being taken out. Johnny Herbert seemed to swap roles with Eddie Irvine in Canada, charging for Jaguar only to suffer a gearbox failure, while Prost's terrible time continues.

But at the end of it all, what was left is the impression that Michael Schumacher has re-established his iron grip on the 2000 world drivers' title. He has been on pole three times in a row now and was the first driver on pole in 13 starts to win a race. His 26th pole and 40th victory somewhat cement his current form. Barrichello continues at strength, now harrying the McLaren men in the title race.

McLaren is convinced otherwise, confident that they can stem the red tide. But the only way McLaren has beaten Ferrari in the recent past was when the leading Ferrari has run into trouble (Barrichello's transmission in Britain, Schumacher's slow puncture and pit troubles in Spain and Michael's suspension in Monaco).

So if they live up to their word, McLaren will have to move forward to achieve it. Otherwise Italy may well have something really good to celebrate come Monza...


Race Results 

CLASSIFIED

Pos  Driver         Team                             
 1.  M.Schumacher   Ferrari              1h 41:12.313
 2.  Barrichello    Ferrari               +     0.174
 3.  Fisichella     Benetton Playlife     +    15.300
 4.  Hakkinen       McLaren Mercedes      +    18.500
 5.  Verstappen     Arrows Supertec       +    52.200
 6.  Trulli         Jordan Mugen-Honda    +  1:01.600
 7.  Coulthard      McLaren Mercedes      +  1:02.200
 8.  Zonta          BAR Honda             +  1:10.400
 9.  Wurz           Benetton Playlife     +  1:19.800
10.  Diniz          Sauber Petronas       +  1:29.500 +25
11.  Button         Williams BMW           1 Lap     
12.  Mazzacane      Minardi Fondmetal      1 Lap     
13.  Irvine         Jaguar Cosworth        3 Laps    
14.  R.Schumacher   Williams BMW           5 Laps   *
15.  Villeneuve     BAR Honda              5 Laps   * +25
16.  Gene           Minardi Fondmetal      5 Laps    

(Pedro Diniz and Jacques Villeneuve were awarded after 
the race a 25-seconds penalty for dangerous driving)

Fastest Lap: M.Hakkinen, 1:19.049 (201.338 km/h) lap 37

NOT CLASSIFIED / RETIREMENTS                                
                                                            
     de la Rosa     Arrows Supertec       48    accident       
     Salo           Sauber Petronas       42    engine electric
     Alesi          Prost Peugeot         39    hyraulics      
     Heidfeld       Prost Peugeot         35    engine         
     Frentzen       Jordan Mugen-Honda    33    brakes         
     Herbert        Jaguar Cosworth       14    gearbox        


WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDING, ROUND 8:                

Drivers:                    Constructors:             
 1.  M.Schumacher  56        1.  Ferrari             84
 2.  Coulthard     34        2.  McLaren             66
 3.  Hakkinen      32        3.  Benetton-Playlife   18
 4.  Barrichello   28        4.  Williams-BMW        15
 5.  Fisichella    18        5.  Jordan-Mugen Honda  10
 6.  R.Schumacher  12        6.  BAR-Honda            6
 7.  Villeneuve     5        7.  Jaguar               3
 =   Frentzen       5        =   Sauber               3
 =.  Trulli         5        =   Arrows               3
10.  Button         3                                  
 =   Irvine         3                                  
 =   Salo           3                                  
13.  Verstappen     2                                  
14.  Zonta          1                                  
 =   de la Rosa     1

Fastest Race Laps 

Pos  Driver        Team                Lap Time              
 1.  Hakkinen      McLaren-Mercedes    37  1:19.049          
 2.  Barrichello   Ferrari             38  1:19.235  + 0.186 
 3.  M.Schumacher  Ferrari             30  1:19.812  + 0.763 
 4.  Coulthard     McLaren-Mercedes    38  1:19.947  + 0.898 
 5.  Fisichella    Benetton-Playlife   37  1:20.399  + 1.350 
 6.  Trulli        Jordan-Mugen Honda  31  1:20.479  + 1.430 
 7.  Diniz         Sauber-Petronas     36  1:20.494  + 1.445 
 8.  R.Schumacher  Williams-BMW        38  1:20.520  + 1.471 
 9.  Villeneuve    BAR-Honda           39  1:20.533  + 1.484 
10.  Gene          Minardi-Fondmetal   38  1:20.547  + 1.498 
11.  Wurz          Benetton-Playlife   39  1:20.625  + 1.576 
12.  Zonta         BAR-Honda           38  1:20.686  + 1.637 
13.  Verstappen    Arrows-Supertec     34  1:20.693  + 1.644 
14.  Irvine        Jaguar-Cosworth     34  1:20.693  + 1.644 
15.  Salo          Sauber-Petronas     37  1:20.696  + 1.647 
16.  Button        Williams-BMW        37  1:20.781  + 1.732 
17.  delaRosa      Arrows-Supertec     35  1:20.842  + 1.793 
18.  Alesi         Prost-Peugeot       20  1:20.889  + 1.840 
19.  Heidfeld      Prost-Peugeot       31  1:21.096  + 2.047 
20.  Frentzen      Jordan-Mugen Honda  21  1:21.110  + 2.061 
21.  Mazzacane     Minardi-Fondmetal   37  1:21.196  + 2.147 
22.  Herbert       Jaguar-Cosworth     10  1:22.369  + 3.320

Pit-Stops Times 

Pos  Driver        Team                Time   Lap
 1.  Wurz          Benetton-Playlife   19.3   68 
 2.  Gene          Minardi-Fondmetal   28.0   45 
 3.  Diniz         Sauber-Petronas     28.4   45 
 4.  Mazzacane     Minardi-Fondmetal   28.5   44 
 5.  Trulli        Jordan-Mugen Honda  29.1   45 
 6.  de la Rosa    Arrows-Supertec     29.2   20 
 7.  Hakkinen      McLaren-Mercedes    29.3   45 
 =   R.Schumacher  Williams-BMW        29.3   45 
 9.  de la Rosa    Arrows-Supertec     29.5   45 
10.  Irvine        Jaguar-Cosworth     29.6   1  
 =.  Coulthard     McLaren-Mercedes    29.6   45 
12.  M.Schumacher  Ferrari             29.7   45 
13.  Verstappen    Arrows-Supertec     29.8   44 
 =   Villeneuve    BAR-Honda           29.8   45 
15.  Diniz         Sauber-Petronas     30.1   42 
 =   Coulthard     McLaren-Mercedes    30.1   43 
17.  Salo          Sauber-Petronas     30.4   40 
18.  Barrichello   Ferrari             30.5   43 
19.  Fisichella    Benetton-Playlife   30.9   44 
20.  Hakkinen      McLaren-Mercedes    31.4   42 
21.  M.Schumacher  Ferrari             31.5   34 
 =   Trulli        Jordan-Mugen Honda  31.5   39 
23.  Coulthard     McLaren-Mercedes    31.9   14 
 =   de la Rosa    Arrows-Supertec     31.9   40 
25.  Button        Williams-BMW        32.2   41 
26.  Gene          Minardi-Fondmetal   32.5   40 
27.  R.Schumacher  Williams-BMW        32.6   42 
28.  Mazzacane     Minardi-Fondmetal   32.7   38 
29.  Zonta         BAR-Honda           32.9   43 
30.  Irvine        Jaguar-Cosworth     34.5   42 
31.  Zonta         BAR-Honda           34.9   45 
32.  Verstappen    Arrows-Supertec     35.2   24 
33.  Villeneuve    BAR-Honda           36.3   44 
34.  Button        Williams-BMW        44.0   44 
35.  Barrichello   Ferrari             46.3   45 
36   A.Wurz        Benetton-Playlife   48.7s  44 
37   J.Alesi       Prost-Peugeot       50.4s  36

Sector Times and Speeds

Sector 1 (S/F Line - T1)     Sector 2 (T1 - T2)     Sector 3 (T2 - S/F Line)  
                                 
Pos Driver Time Speed     Pos Driver Time Speed     Pos Driver Time Speed  
1 Barrichello 23.124 267.52     1 Barrichello 25.704 291.36     1 Hakkinen 30.033 296.32  
2 Hakkinen 23.190 263.52     2 Hakkinen 25.717 287.36     2 Coulthard 30.278 296.32  
3 M.Schumacher 23.200 260.48     3 M.Schumacher 25.968 288.32     3 Barrichello 30.332 290.24  
4 Gene 23.392 257.44     4 Coulthard 25.990 279.36     4 R.Schumacher 30.531 291.36  
5 Trulli 23.520 254.56     5 Trulli 26.078 282.40     5 Fisichella 30.532 288.32  
6 Diniz 23.520 256.48     6 Zonta 26.114 289.28     6 Salo 30.583 291.36  
7 Button 23.536 256.48     7 Villeneuve 26.117 279.36     7 Verstappen 30.590 289.28  
8 Irvine 23.555 257.44     8 Salo 26.171 288.32     8 de la Rosa 30.591 289.28  
9 Alesi 23.599 256.48     9 Diniz 26.183 293.28     9 Trulli 30.603 288.32  
10 Villeneuve 23.605 403.20     10 Fisichella 26.183 280.32     10 Zonta 30.606 288.32  
11 Wurz 23.621 256.48     11 R.Schumacher 26.198 286.40     11 Wurz 30.630 287.36  
12 Coulthard 23.632 253.60     12 Gene 26.213 290.24     12 M.Schumacher 30.634 289.28  
13 de la Rosa 23.634 258.56     13 de la Rosa 26.245 290.24     13 Diniz 30.661 289.28  
14 Fisichella 23.637 248.64     14 Wurz 26.247 281.28     14 Villeneuve 30.662 290.24  
15 R.Schumacher 23.650 259.52     15 Verstappen 26.280 292.32     15 Irvine 30.714 287.36  
16 Mazzacane 23.672 256.48     16 Button 26.284 279.36     16 Button 30.770 288.32  
17 Zonta 23.711 252.48     17 Irvine 26.291 291.36     17 Frentzen 30.806 286.40  
18 Frentzen 23.719 246.56     18 Heidefeld 26.295 279.36     18 Alesi 30.823 285.28  
19 Heidefeld 23.725 252.48     19 Alesi 26.362 285.28     19 Gene 30.832 284.32  
20 Verstappen 23.736 256.48     20 Mazzacane 26.397 283.36     20 Mazzacane 30.963 283.36  
21 Salo 23.821 258.56     21 Frentzen 26.533 279.36     21 Heidfeld 30.980 284.32  
22 Herbert 24.176 245.60     22 Herbert 26.872 276.32     22 Herbert 31.159 283.36  


The Canadian Grand Prix, Lap by Lap

As the cars are being fired up David Coulthard's McLaren stalls. The mechanics restart the car just before the field takes off so David is able to start from his normal grid position.

Frentzen leads the midfield

  • Lap 1: At the start the leading contenders get away well with Mika Hakkinen slightly slower than the rest. Michael Schumacher squeezes ahead at the first corner and David Coulthard second. Rubens Barrichello has to brake heavily to avoid hitting Hakkinen, who has Jacques Villeneuve alongside him. The Finn and the Canadian go into the corner side by side and Jacques then forces Hakkinen wide as the track curls to the right. Villeneuve then moves back to the left to stop Barrichello passing him. This means that Villeneuve is third with Barrichello fourth, Hakkinen fifth and Heinz-Harald Frentzen sixth, under pressure from Pedro de la Rosa's Arrows. Eddie Irvine is left on the grid. He is pushed to the pit lane exit and eventually starts a lap down.

  • Lap 2: Coulthard sets the fastest lap to pull back Michael Schumacher's early advantage. Further back de la Rosa passes Frentzen for sixth position. At the back of the field Eddie Irvine pits.

  • Lap 4: The battle between Schumacher and Coulthard ebbs and flows while Villeneuve holds up Barrichello, Hakkinen, de la Rosa and Frentzen. Further back Jos Verstappen overtakes Giancarlo Fisichella for 10th place. At the back the engine of the Williams-BMW of Jenson Button begins to sound flat.

    Barrichello leads Hakkinen

  • Lap 11: The pattern remains unchanged until it is announced that Coulthard must stop for a 10-second stop-go penalty as his mechanics had worked on the car within the last 15 seconds before the parade lap began.

  • Lap 13: Ralf Schumacher passes Johnny Herbert for 12th place. Herbert drops back further and retires soon afterwards.

  • Lap 14: Coulthard stops for his penalty and drops to 10th place. This promotes Villeneuve to second place but he is 17 seconds behind and still holding up Barrichello, Hakkinen and de la Rosa.

  • Lap 16: Hakkinen tries to overtake Barrichello but the move fails.

  • Lap 18: De la Rosa stops, indicating that he is on a two-stop strategy. He drops to 15th place.

  • Lap 23: There are spots of rain and the track becomes very slippery.

  • Lap 24: Jarno Trulli manages to overtake Ricardo Zonta for sixth place. Further back Verstappen and Coulthard both go off but get back on the track having lost several places. Verstappen pits at the end of the lap.

  • Lap 25: Barrichello manages to pass Villeneuve and begins to chase after Schumacher.

    Alex Wurz leads Jean Alesi

  • Lap 27: Trulli passes Frentzen for fifth place.

  • Lap 29: As the two Ferraris trade fastest laps, Hakkinen challenges Villeneuve for third place.

  • Lap 32: Zonta overtakes Frentzen for sixth place. Frentzen is in trouble with his brakes and pits at the end of the following lap.

  • Lap 34: Michael Schumacher pits earlier than planned because of a problem at the rear end. The team inspects the car but nothing is visible and he sets off again, falling behind Barrichello. Nick Heidfeld also pits in his Prost. When he rejoins his engine blows as he accelerates away.

  • Lap 35: Hakkinen gets ahead Villeneuve for third place.

  • Lap 36: Jean Alesi pits from ninth place but he stalls and drops right back.

  • Lap 39: Fifth-placed Trulli is the first of the major runners to stop.

  • Lap 40: Barrichello has increased his lead to ninth position. Further back de la Rosa, Mika Salo and Marc Gene all pit. Alesi's Prost expires with an engine failure.

  • Lap 42: Hakkinen pits and drops from third.

    Button leads Irvine

  • Lap 43: The leader Barrichello, fourth-placed Zonta and sixth-placed Coulthard stop.

  • Lap 44: With Schumacher back in the lead and Barrichello second, third-placed Villeneuve, fourth-placed Fisichella and sixth-placed Wurz all stop. There is a hint of rain at the back of the track and the Benetton team puts its drivers onto wet tyres. The other to make a big leap forward during the stops is Verstappen who combines his second stop with the change to wet tyres.

  • Lap 45: Several drivers have off-track moments and all the major runners except Hakkinen stop for rain tyres. The Finn stops at the end of lap 46.

  • Lap 47: Second-placed Fisichella goes off and loses his place to Barrichello. Michael Schumacher also goes off but remains around half a minute in the lead. Hakkinen is fourth with Trulli fifth and Wurz up to sixth. Villeneuve has an off and drops back to 10th. At the back de la Rosa passes Pedro Diniz.

  • Lap 48: Diniz challenges de la Rosa and the two cars collide, the Spaniard retiring with a broken wheel.

  • Lap 52: Verstappen challenges Wurz for sixth. Both drivers go off independently of one another at one corner but rejoin without losing positions.

    Ricardo Zonta

  • Lap 57: Verstappen finally passes Wurz after several exciting laps. The pair have a trail of cars comprising Ralf Schumacher, Coulthard and Villeneuve behind them.

  • Lap 60: Verstappen challenges and passes Trulli for fifth place.

  • Lap 63: As Barrichello catches Schumacher quickly, at the tail of the field Marc Gene had a spin and Button moves up to 13th position.

  • Lap 64: Villeneuve tries a wild overtaking manoeuvre at the hairpin but fails to pass any of the cars ahead of him as he overshoots and loses the advantage he had gained.

  • Lap 65: Villeneuve does it again and this time runs straight into the side of Ralf Schumacher, taking both men out. As the rain intensifies, Fisichella has a spin.

  • Lap 67: Coulthard and Wurz clash at the first corner and both men go of. Wurz has to pit as a result and loses seventh place.

  • Lap 69: Barrichello closes right up to Schumacher and the two cross the line side by side to score a Ferrari 1-2. Fisichella is third and Hakkinen fourth. Verstappen finishes fifth and Trulli takes the final World Championship point.


    The Results - Team by Team (provided by Reuters)

    Fisichella and HerbertFERRARI (Michael Schumacher 1, Rubens Barrichello 2):

    Michael Schumacher maintained the lead from pole position and went on to drive a majestic race. Lost the lead briefly to team mate Rubens Barrichello during his first pit-stop, but recovered to take victory.

    Barrichello completed a Ferrari one-two despite suffering brake problems throughout the race. A pit crew error also hindered his race when no wet tyres were ready when he came in.

    BENETTON (Giancarlo Fisichella 3, Alex Wurz 9):

    Giancarlo Fisichella boosted his and the team's confidence with an improved drive. The Italian timed his only pit-stop right on lap 47 as the rain started and he immediately went onto wet tyres. The other teams had to come in again.

    Austrian Alexander Wurz failed to match the pace of his team mate and settled for ninth place. He clashed with David Coulthard three laps from the finish, but recovered.

    MCLAREN (Mika Hakkinen 4, David Coulthard 7):

    Mika Hakkinen claimed fourth place, but never stamped his authority on the race. The world champion was held up by Jacques Villeneuve in the early stages.

    David Coulthard had no luck as he was punished with a 10-second penalty while challenging Schumacher for the lead. It effectively ended his race and a spin on the oil from Jos Verstappen's car also lost the Briton places on lap 25.

    ARROWS (Jos Verstappen 5, Pedro de la Rosa retired):

    Schumacher and HakkinenDutchman Jos Verstappen recovered from early engine problems on lap 25 to earn two championship points. He revelled in the rain and made up three places.

    Verstappen's team mate Pedro de la Rosa started well on a light fuel load as he opted for a two-stop strategy. He retired from the race on lap 49 when in 12th place after touching wheels with the Sauber of Pedro Diniz and hitting a wall.

    JORDAN (Jarno Trulli 6, Heinz-Harald Frentzen retired):

    Italian Jarno Trulli drove a consistent race and always looked capable of scoring points. The power and reliability of his Jordan was also a positive.

    Heinz-Harald Frentzen suffered a bad start, losing two places, and then had problems with his brakes. The German came into the pits when his pit-crew were not ready and decided to stop after just 33 laps.

    BAR (Ricardo Zonta 8, Jacques Villeneuve 15):

    Ricardo Zonta had a bad start and did not find the pace of the cars ahead of him. He continued to struggle in the mid-field before finishing eighth.

    Jacques Villeneuve produced the best start of the race as he powered from sixth to third. An ambitious overtaking manoeuvre on David Coulthard ended his race as he crashed into Ralf Schumacher four laps from the finish when challenging for sixth.

    SAUBER (Pedro Diniz 10, Mika Salo retired):

    Pedro Diniz finished the race 10th after a tentative drive. The Brazilian failed to cope with the slippery Gilles Villeneuve track and consequently failed to find maximum pace.

    The podium celebrationsMika Salo retired on lap 42 with mechanical problems after a dismal weekend in which he failed to challenge the top positions.

    WILLIAMS (Jenson Button 11, Ralf Schumacher 14):

    Jenson Button made up a place at the start and pushed hard in the early stages. A broken front wing halfway through the race forced him into the pits and undid all the hard work as he finished 11th.

    Ralf Schumacher defied his injured leg to produce an impressive drive. The German was challenging for sixth place when Jacques Villeneuve crashed into him on lap 65 and ended any hope of getting points.

    MINARDI (Gaston Mazzacane 12, Marc Gene 16):

    Gaston Mazzacane started from the back, and apart from a battle with Jenson Button near the end, the Argentine rarely troubled the rest of the field as he finished 12th.

    Spaniard Marc Gene started well but never looked like making up any places. Spun off several times during the race, before one last spin on lap 64 ended his race.

    JAGUAR (Eddie Irvine 13, Johnny Herbert retired):

    Eddie Irvine stalled on the grid at the start and rejoined the race two laps down from the rest of the field. He spun on lap 49 with a rear suspension problem before finishing the race 13th, three laps down.

    The luckless Johnny Herbert was the first driver to retire from the race. The Briton was forced into the pits on lap 14 as he reported a downshift problem with his gearbox.

    PROST (Jean Alesi retired, Nick Heidfeld retired):

    Jean Alesi stalled his car on his first pit-stop, losing half-a-minute. After rejoining the race he retired on lap 40 with engine problems.

    Nick Heidfeld maintained his position near the rear of the field before his Peugeot engine blew up as he came out of the pits on lap 35. The engine caught fire and the young German had a short walk back to the garage.

    • Michele Lupini© 2000 Kaizar.Com, Incorporated.
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