2000 French Grand Prix
Template:Short description Template:Good article Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox Grand Prix race report The 2000 French Grand Prix (officially the LXXXVI Mobil 1 Grand Prix de France) was a Formula One motor race contested on 2 July 2000 at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in Magny-Cours, Burgundy, Central France, attended by 112,112 spectators. It was the 86th French Grand Prix and the ninth round of the 2000 Formula One World Championship. McLaren's David Coulthard won the 72-lap race after starting second. His teammate Mika Häkkinen finished second with Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello third.
Before the race, Michael Schumacher led the World Drivers' Championship and Ferrari led the World Constructors' Championship. Coulthard started the race alongside Michael Schumacher, who started from pole position after setting the fastest qualifying lap. Barrichello started third and passed Coulthard entering the first corner. Michael Schumacher retained his early lead and led after the first round of pit stops. During the race's second stint, Michael Schumacher began to struggle with tyre wear, allowing Coulthard to reduce the deficit and pass him on lap 40. Coulthard won the race after retaining his lead during the second round of pit stops. Michael Schumacher retired on lap 59 due to engine failure, advancing Häkkinen to second place. Barrichello finished third, followed by BAR driver Jacques Villeneuve in fourth.
Coulthard won his third race of the season and his eighth in Formula One, reduced Michael Schumacher's lead in the World Drivers' Championship to twelve points. Häkkinen remained third with 38 points, six more than Barrichello. McLaren's one-two result in the World Constructors' Championship allowed them to close the deficit on Ferrari to six points with eight races remaining in the season.
BackgroundEdit
The 2000 French Grand Prix was the ninth of seventeen rounds in the 2000 Formula One World Championship, contested on 2 July 2000 at the Template:Convert clockwise Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in Magny-Cours, Burgundy, Central France.<ref name="CF1Race" /><ref name="ESPNResults" /><ref name="F12000SeasonBook">Template:Cite book</ref> Sole tyre supplier Bridgestone delivered the more balanced and less grippy Soft and the faster Extra Soft dry compound tyres to the event.<ref name="Goodman2000">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="preview">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="F1MagRussiaReport">Template:Cite journal</ref> Bridgestone technical director Yoshihiko Ichikawa urged teams to use extra soft compounds instead of soft tyres because they provided more car grip and understeer was less noticeable at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours than on rougher circuits.<ref name=F1MagRussiaReport/> The event featured eleven teams (each representing a different constructor) with two drivers each, with no changes from the season entry list.<ref name="entrants">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Ferrari's Michael Schumacher led the World Drivers' Championship with 56 points before the race, followed by McLaren's David Coulthard on 34 and his teammate Mika Häkkinen on 32. Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello was fourth with 28 points, with Benetton's Giancarlo Fisichella fifth with 18 points.<ref name=points>Template:Cite book</ref> Ferrari led the World Constructors' Championship with 84 points. McLaren and Benetton were second and third with 66 and 18 points, respectively, and Williams and Jordan contended for fourth with 15 and ten points, respectively.<ref name=points/>
Following the Template:F1GP on 18 June, the teams (except for Minardi due to a transport strike in Italy) tested at the track between 21 and 23 June to prepare for the upcoming French Grand Prix. Coulthard led the first day from McLaren test driver Olivier Panis.<ref name="Goodman2000" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Arrows' Jos Verstappen lost control of his car after a mechanical failure and crashed into the barriers at turn two. Verstappen suffered neck strain and withdrew from testing. He was later cleared to compete in the Grand Prix.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Coulthard remained fastest on the second day. Fisichella damaging the underside of his car's chassis, limiting his testing time while Benetton repaired his car.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On the final day of testing, Häkkinen was fastest. Michael Schumacher stopped on track as his Ferrari engine failed, necessitating the installation of a replacement engine into the chassis.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On 27 June, Ferrari went to their private testing facility, the Fiorano Circuit, where test driver Luca Badoer shakedown three Ferrari F1-2000 cars and practised pit stops.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
After the Canadian Grand Prix, where he stalled on the grid before the formation lap before receiving a ten-second stop-go penalty because his mechanics worked on his car 15 seconds before the race started, Coulthard said that Ferrari could still be caught in the season's nine remaining races. He commented: "We have to look towards Magny-Cours and put this (Montreal) race behind us. The championship is not over yet and although we cannot change what happened in Canada, we can try to close the gap."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After Häkkinen's recent poor results, British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) president and former world champion Jackie Stewart backed Coulthard to win the championship.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Michael Schumacher was optimistic that his car would perform well on the track.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Flavio Briatore, Benetton's team principal, downplayed his team's chances, saying: "We need a miracle to finish on the podium."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Almost every team modified their cars for the event.<ref name="Goodman2000" /><ref name=AutosprintTech>Template:Cite journal</ref> Ferrari introduced chimney stacks on the F1-2000 during free practice for the first time and additional vents to extract warm air for aerodynamic efficiency. The team reverted to previous specifications for qualifying and the race. It also modified the axle construction at the car's bottom with composite materials designed to minimise friction when it touched the asphalt surface. McLaren installed a new extractor profile for free practice and qualifying but removed it for warm-up and the race. It also asymmetrically positioned the rear-view mirrors, the right placed further forward and lower than the left for improved visibility in the track's final corner. Sauber modified the sides' opening and BAR installed a new body and ailerons. Peugeot provided Prost with an upgraded V10 engine for driver Jean Alesi, who slammed the engine's driveability.<ref name=AutosprintTech/> Jordan debuted a revised braking system.<ref name="Goodman2000" />
PracticeEdit
Before the race on Sunday, there were two one-hour sessions on Friday and two 45-minute sessions on Saturday.<ref name="regulations">Template:Cite book</ref> The Friday morning and afternoon practice sessions were held in hot, dry weather.<ref name="fiafriday">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Michael Schumacher set the first practice session's fastest lap at 1:16.474, two tenths of a second faster than Häkkinen. Prost's Nick Heidfeld was third, ahead Williams' Ralf Schumacher. Jaguar's Eddie Irvine and Johnny Herbert were fifth and seventh. Fisichella came in sixth, separating the two. Alesi, Arrows' Pedro de la Rosa, and Williams' Jenson Button finished eighth through tenth.<ref name="AF1FP1" /> Only four drivers set timed laps after two-thirds had passed and fourteen others set one timed lap before returning to the pit lane.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Just four drivers set no laps: Coulthard's car experienced a mechanical fuel pump issue, Barrichello drove one installation lap to preserve tyre use and both Jordan drivers sat out the session.<ref name="AF1FP1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Coulthard led the second practice session with a lap of 1:16.253 despite losing 25 minutes due to an oil tank leak that his crew remedied by removing the engine in his car, limiting his running to four minutes; Häkkinen ended second fastest. Ferraris were second and fourth, with Michael Schumacher ahead of Barrichello. Sauber's Mika Salo was fifth fastest, ahead of Fisichella, Jordan's Jarno Trulli, Heidfeld, Ralf Schumacher and Trulli's teammate Heinz-Harald Frentzen in positions six through ten.<ref name="fiafriday" /><ref name="SpeedvisionFriday">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The lack of grip at the tight last corner leading onto the pit lane straight caught out some drivers. The overall grip was poor around the course and BAR's Jacques Villeneuve and Ricardo Zonta beached their cars in the gravel trap.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Trulli stalled attempting to simulate a standing start.<ref name="SpeedvisionFriday" />
The weather remained dry and hot for the Saturday morning practice sessions.<ref name="fiasaturday">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Every racer could drive on the circuit in preparation for qualifying later that day.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Coulthard set the third session's fastest time, a 1:15.965, the first driver to lap faster than 1:16.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Häkkinen was second fastest, almost two-tenths slower than Coulthard.<ref name="GF1SatFP" /> Jordan teammates Trulli and Frentzen were both faster than the day before, with Trulli third and Frentzen fourth.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Jaguar's Irvine was fifth and Herbert was eighth. Michael Schumacher and Button separated them. Barrichello and de la Rosa were ninth and tenth, respectively.<ref name="GF1SatFP">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Coulthard was unable to improve his time in the last practice session due to an engine problem halfway down the track, forcing him to enter the pit lane with smoke billowing from his car, although remaining fastest overall.<ref name="AF1SatFP" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Because there was insufficient time to fix the problem during practise, Coulthard's mechanics replaced the engine in his vehicle for qualifying.<ref name=F1MagRussiaReport/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Häkkinen lapped faster and remained second. Barrichello went quicker and was third fastest, ahead of Ralf Schumacher. Jordan drivers Trulli and Frentzen finished fifth and sixth, with best times two thousandths of a second apart. Irvine was seventh quickest, ahead of Michael Schumacher, who focused on qualifying setup. Button and Herbert were ninth and tenth.<ref name="AF1SatFP">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
QualifyingEdit
.jpg){kind=link}
Each driver was limited to twelve laps during Saturday's one-hour qualifying session, with the starting position determined by their fastest performance. The 107% rule was in force during this session, which required each driver to achieve a time within 107% of the fastest lap to qualify for the race.<ref name="regulations" /> Qualifying was held in dry, hot weather,<ref name="fiasaturday" /><ref name="temp">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref> with temperatures periodically rising during the session.<ref name=AutosportQuali>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Michael Schumacher posted a time of 1:15.632, his fourth pole position of the season and the 27th of his career, around 25 minutes into the session.<ref name=SpeedvisionQuali>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was joined on the first row by Coulthard, whose fastest time was 0.102 seconds slower, and drove the spare McLaren vehicle for two laps while the team's mechanics replaced a defective fuel pump under the fuel tank.<ref name="F12000SeasonBook" /><ref name="bbcquali">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="atlasquali">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Coulthard was unable to lap quicker after spinning through 180 degrees, and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) ordered him to undergo a car weight inspection in the pit lane.<ref name=F1NetQuali>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Barrichello secured third after changing his car's set-up in qualifying, which caused uncertainty over ride height changes.<ref name="fiasaturday" /> Häkkinen was demoted to fourth by Barrichello on the final lap due to difficulty in the slow speed turns from setup problems.<ref name="F12000SeasonBook" /><ref name="Goodman2000" /><ref name="fiasaturday" /> Late in qualifying, Ralf Schumacher qualified fifth and was pleased with his starting position.<ref name=AutosportQuali/><ref name="atlasquali" /> He demoted Irvine to sixth place in the final phases of qualifying.<ref name="atlasquali" /> Villeneuve qualified seventh.<ref name="bbcquali" />
Jordan's Trulli and Frentzen were eighth and ninth. Both drivers were disappointed with their performance;<ref name="fiasaturday" /> Trulli went wide off the course and returned via the off surface, preventing him from lapping faster.<ref name="atlasquali" /><ref name=F1NetQuali/> Button qualified tenth.<ref name="bbcquali" /> Herbert in eleventh failed to qualify in the top ten by nearly three-tenths of a second.<ref name="bbcquali" /> Salo took twelfth, with his fastest time posted when cloud cover reduced air and track temperatures.<ref name="atlasquali" /> He was ahead of de la Rosa in 13th position in the quicker of the two Arrows;<ref name=SpeedvisionQuali/> he electronics system failed, and he returned to the pit lane to drive the spare Arrows car.<ref name="F1MagRussiaReport" /><ref name=F1NetQuali/> Fisichella started 14th due to car balance and tyre wear,<ref name=SatQuotes>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> nearly one-tenth of a second faster than Benetton teammate Alexander Wurz; both drivers reported car grip issues.<ref name="fiasaturday" /><ref name="atlasquali" /> Pedro Diniz in the other Sauber and Heidfeld split the two.<ref name="bbcquali" /> Alesi followed in 18th.<ref name="atlasquali" /> Zonta, 19th, used BAR's spare car after his racing car's engine failed.<ref name="fiasaturday" /> A lack of grip left Verstappen in 20th. Minardi's Marc Gené and Gastón Mazzacane qualified at the back of the grid in places 21 to 22; both drivers were 2.4 and 2.6 seconds slower than the pole sitter, respectively, Minardi's best qualifying performance from first position up to that point in the season.<ref name="bbcquali" /><ref name=SatQuotes/>
Post-qualifyingEdit
After qualifying but before the warm-up session, the FIA safety delegate Charlie Whiting announced that he had banned practice starts at the pit lane exit after observing driver behaviour in the area during the Saturday free practice sessions.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Qualifying classificationEdit
Warm-upEdit
The drivers took to the track at 09:30 Central European Summer Time (UTC+2) for a 30-minute warm-up session,<ref name="regulations"/> in sunny weather.<ref name=FIAWarmUp/> Overnight rain left the asphalt surface slippery, but the sun dried it up as the session went; lap time were significantly slower than the previous two days.<ref name=F1MagRussiaReport/><ref name=SpeedvisionWarmUp>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=AutosportWarmUp>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> To begin the session, teams fitted wet tyres on their cars before switching to dry compound tyres when lap times decreased and the circuit's condition improved.<ref name=SpeedvisionWarmUp/> Drivers modified their car's setups and some reported issues.<ref name=FIAWarmUp/> Häkkinen set the fastest time of 1:19.329 with two minutes remaining.<ref name=AutosportWarmUp/> Coulthard was second in the other McLaren, with Michael Schumacher third and Trulli fourth. Michael Schumacher drove both the spare and race Ferraris, adjusting settings to the changing track conditions.<ref name=FIAWarmUp>Template:Cite news</ref> Some drivers lost control of their cars on the slippery track,<ref name=AutosportWarmUp/> and Frentzen damaged a semi-axle by going off the circuit.<ref name=F1MagRussiaReport/>
RaceEdit
The 72-lap event had a distance of Template:Convert,<ref name="CF1Race" /> and began before 112,112 spectators at 14:00 local time.<ref name=galeforcef1race/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The weather for the race was dry and sunny;<ref name="F12000SeasonBook" /> the air temperature ranged from Template:Convert and the track temperature was between Template:Convert;<ref name=galeforcef1race>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=f1comrace>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> conditions were expected to remain consistent throughout the race with 40% chance of rain.<ref name="Goodman2000" /><ref name=galeforcef1race/> Every driver began on the Extra Soft dry compound tyres.<ref name=f1comrace/> Driver tyre usage and car setup modifications affected compound wear.<ref name=AutosportAnalysis>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Autosport wrote that "the key to the French GP was always going to be the start" due to the short pit lane straight leading into a fast left-hand corner rather than having a heavy braking zone. It observed: "For the drivers in the even numbered grid positions, on the inside line, it's always a bit difficult. The cars on the outside have a better run at the first turn, and can gain ground by sweeping across in front of those caught on the inside."<ref name=AutosportAnalysis/> Coulthard removed the rear aerofoil tailplane to reduce the effect of an understeer and increase his top speed.<ref name="F12000SeasonBook" /><ref name="HenryMerc2001">Template:Cite book</ref>
While Coulthard made the best start of the leading runners, Michael Schumacher moved left and into his path to retain the lead. Coulthard then moved to his right but was blocked and slowed to avoid a collision, allowing Barrichello past for second.<ref name="Goodman2000" /><ref name=AutosportRace>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="fiarace" /> Salo had the strongest start in the field, going from twelfth to ninth by the end of the first lap, while Irvine fell four positions and Ralf Schumacher dropped from fifth to seventh.<ref name="fiarace">Template:Cite journal</ref> At the first lap's completion, the top six drivers were Michael Schumacher, Barrichello, Coulthard, Häkkinen, Villeneuve, and Frentzen.<ref name="lapchart">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Michael Schumacher began to pull away from the field, setting successive fastest laps.<ref name=lapchart/> Barrichello began delaying the McLaren drivers to help his teammate extend his lead. On lap two, Trulli overtook Ralf Schumacher for seventh and Alesi passed Heidfeld for 14th.<ref name=fiarace/> On the following lap, Ralf Schumacher retook seventh from Trulli.<ref name=f1comrace/> Heidfeld lost a further position to Fisichella on lap four.<ref name=fiarace/> Ralf Schumacher began challenging Frentzen for sixth on the fifth lap.<ref name=f1comrace/>
Michael Schumacher increasing his advantage over Barrichello to five seconds by lap ten.<ref name="F12000SeasonBook" /> Button took tenth position from Irvine on lap twelve, while Heidfeld collided with Alesi at the Adelaide hairpin while attempting to overtake Fisichella,<ref name="fiarace" /> sending his teammate into a spin and dropping to 18th.<ref name="f1comrace" /> Button overtook Salo for ninth on lap 13.<ref name="F12000SeasonBook" /> Zonta, who was running 17th, experienced braking troubles on lap 17 and struck the tyre barriers, forcing him to retire from the Grand Prix.<ref name="f1comrace" /><ref name="fiarace" /> By the 18th lap, Michael Schumacher had extended his lead over Barrichello to 6.2 seconds, who continued to hold up Coulthard in third. Häkkinen was 1.4 seconds behind his teammate but pulling away from Villeneuve in fifth.<ref name=lapchart/> Herbert retired three laps later after making an unscheduled pit stop due to a gearbox issue that gradually lost his use of all gears.<ref name="f1comrace" /><ref name="quotes2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On the same lap, Alesi became the first driver to pit for tyres.<ref name=fiarace/>
Trulli became the first front runner to pit on lap 21, followed by Villeneuve, Frentzen, and Ralf Schumacher.<ref name="lapchart" /> On lap 22, Coulthard passed Barrichello on the outside for second place exiting the Adelaide hairpin.<ref name=AutosportRace/><ref name="fiarace" /> Coulthard entered the hairpin wide and gained enough speed to overtake Barrichello, who did not swerve into him.<ref name="gprace">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Häkkinen, Button, Michael Schumacher, Coulthard, and Barrichello all made pit stops over the following three laps.<ref name="lapchart" /> Verstappen retired at the side of the pit straight on lap 26 due to gearbox issues.<ref name="f1comrace" /><ref name="fiarace" /> Coulthard was able to close up to Michael Schumacher to less than a second by lap 32, having recorded the race's fastest lap, a 1:19.479 on the 28th lap;<ref name="lapchart" /> the latter was struggling with his tyres in the warm climate.<ref name="Goodman2000" /> He on the outside attempted to overtake Michael Schumacher on the inside two laps later but Schumacher defended his position.<ref name="F12000SeasonBook" /> Coulthard slowed to avoid a collision and gave Michael Schumacher the middle finger in his immediate anger.<ref name="F12000SeasonBook" /><ref name="COUBook">Template:Cite book</ref> The manoeuvre allowed Häkkinen to close up on the pair.<ref name="f1comrace" /> Mazzacane spun off at the third corner on the previous lap and retired.<ref name="f1comrace" /> Wurz's brakes locked up entering turn 15, causing him to beach his car in the gravel trap and retire on lap 36.<ref name="f1comrace" /><ref name="gprace" /> Button became the first driver to pit twice on lap 39.<ref name="fiarace" />
Coulthard went to the inside of Michael Schumacher (who had heavily worn tyres) in the Adelaide hairpin as Schumacher steered wide to cover. After forcing Michael Schumacher into the outside verge of the corner exit, he took the lead on lap 40.<ref name="F12000SeasonBook" /><ref name="AutosportRace" /><ref name=fiarace/> Michael Schumacher's right front wheel made slight contact with Coulthard's left rear tyre exiting the hairpin.<ref name=f1comrace/><ref name="fiarace" /> Michael Schumacher then promptly withstood Häkkinen's overtaking attempts.<ref name=fiarace/> Frentzen and de la Rosa became the next two drivers to make pit stops on the same lap.<ref name=lapchart/> Michael Schumacher and Häkkinen made pit stops for the second time on lap 43 and both emerged in third and fourth respectively. Barrichello's pit stop on the 44th lap lasted 16.8 seconds and dropped him to fifth because his team had trouble fitting a cross threaded wheel nut on his right front tyre.<ref name=AutosportAnalysis/><ref name=AutosportRace/> This eliminated Barrichello from contention for the victory.<ref name=SpeedvisionRace>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> De La Rosa retired in the pit lane with transmission failure after completing 45 laps.<ref name="fiarace" /><ref name="lapchart" /> Coulthard entered the pit lane at the conclusion of the 46th lap for his final 7.9-second pit stop. He rejoined in the lead, three seconds ahead of Michael Schumacher.<ref name=AutosportRace/>
After the front-runners finished their pit stops, the first six drivers on lap 48 were Coulthard, Michael Schumacher, Häkkinen, Barrichello, Villeneuve, and Trulli.<ref name="lapchart" /> On lap 52, towards the back of the field, Gené and Alesi collided, sending both cars spinning sideways. Both drivers maintained their respective positions.<ref name=fiarace/> Further up, Ralf Schumacher passed Trulli at turn five for sixth.<ref name=f1comrace/> By lap 53, Häkkinen was less than a second behind Michael Schumacher and continued to battle him for second as his tyres degraded faster than the McLarens.<ref name=lapchart/> Irvine overtook Diniz for twelfth position two laps later.<ref name="f1comrace" /> On the 58th lap,<ref name="f1comrace" /> Häkkinen was close behind Michael Schumacher and nearly outdragged him at the exit of Lycee corner. Michael Schumacher ran wide to hold off Häkkinen.<ref name=AutosportRace/> Häkkinen passed Michael Schumacher on lap 59 after the latter drove wide when his rear wheels locked braking for the Adelaide hairpin.<ref name="AutosportAnalysis" /><ref name="quotes2" /><ref name=SpeedvisionRace/> Michael Schumacher retired with a sudden engine failure on the same lap.<ref name="F12000SeasonBook" /><ref name=fiarace/>
Coulthard slowed slightly because he felt his lead was safe.<ref name=AutosportRace/> He crossed the finish line in 1'38:05.538, at an average speed of Template:Convert, for his third victory of the season and eighth of his Formula One career.<ref name=SpeedvisionRace/><ref name="Results">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Häkkinen finished second 14.7 seconds later, ahead of Barrichello in third, Villeneuve in fourth, Ralf Schumacher in five, and Trulli the final points scorer in sixth.<ref name="gprace" /> Frentzen in seventh held off Button in eighth place who was being closed up to Fisichella in ninth during the race's final laps.<ref name=AutosportRace/> Salo, Diniz, and Heidfeld followed in the next three positions, with Irvine, Alesi, and Gené the final classified finishers.<ref name="gprace" />
Post-raceEdit
The top three drivers collected their trophies on the podium and spoke at the press conference that followed.<ref name="regulations" /> Coulthard described his race weekend as "exhausting" due to issues his team had to face. He also apologised for making hand motions at Michael Schumacher during his initial overtaking manoeuvre on him.<ref name=pressconf>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Häkkinen expressed satisfaction to finish second and applauded his team's efforts. He also mentioned watching Michael Schumacher's racing lines and believing he might have passed him if he had not retired due to an engine failure.<ref name=pressconf/> Barrichello said that Ferrari told him to slow in the race's closing stages since he had a 35-second lead over Villeneuve.<ref name=pressconf/>
After Ferrari's victory at the previous race, their team principal Jean Todt, said that "we seemed to be in a strong position but, of course, it is the order at the finish that counts",<ref name="quotes2" /> while Michael Schumacher said that his car's tyres dropped in performance following his first pit stop.<ref name="quotes2" /> McLaren technical director Adrian Newey said that the pit stop strategy was crucial in winning the race. He commented: "The tyre wear did not spring any surprises on us and we were able to trust our estimations and co-ordinate the pit-stops to our best advantage."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Villeneuve was happy to finish fourth and was surprised by his good start.<ref name="quotes2" /> Heidfeld, who collided with his teammate Alesi during the race, apologised for the collision.<ref name="quotes2" /> Ralf Schumacher said that he slowed to secure fifth place.<ref name=quotes>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Trulli described his race as "difficult" because of the hot temperatures but praised his mechanics for their work.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
After the race, Coulthard's overtaking manoeuvres on Michael Schumacher drew much media attention. Coulthard accused Michael Schumacher of unsporting behaviour and dangerous driving, saying: "I had a clean run at Michael on the outside and equally I felt he drove me wide. You could say he has the right to do that because he has track position. I'm not arguing against that. I just don't think Michael is very sporting."<ref name="Goodman2000" /> Michael Schumacher later denied any misconduct, citing a similar incident at the 1999 Japanese Grand Prix in which Coulthard pushed him wide with no objections raised. He also admitted to not seeing Coulthard's hand gesture.<ref name="passschumi">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Coulthard sought clarification with the FIA over such overtakes, with a source from Formula One's governing body commenting: "It was hard racing – they are racing drivers aren't they?"<ref name=mclarenchamp>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> When asked by a journalist if Coulthard's gesture was unsporting and gave young racing fans the wrong impression, Mercedes' head of motorsport Norbert Haug replied: "You don't understand, in motor-racing, that is a traditional gesture used to indicate to the driver ahead that you intend to overtake him in one lap's time."<ref name=COUBook/> According to GrandPrix.com, Coulthard's overtake showed that he "is ready to stand up to Michael and is not afraid of what will happen if Michael does not lift."<ref name=gprace/>
FIA president Max Mosley stated that Michael Schumacher's single swerving action at the start of the race was "more of a convention" agreed upon by drivers rather than a formal regulation, adding: "They are all grown men at the height of their profession. However, where we would get involved is if the move was totally outrageous and deemed to be dangerous."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Coulthard said he interpreted the regulations to mean that a driver intentionally going across the track to block another racer deserved a penalty or disqualification. He stated that he would raise the subject at the drivers' meeting prior to the next Template:F1GP but not with Michael Schumacher directly.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The consequence of the drivers' meeting was that Michael Schumacher would be allowed to continue swerving to protect the race lead at the start of events after an agreement that would have resulted in a ban on such tactics was not reached when Ralf Schumacher supported his brother.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The race resulted in Coulthard closing the World Drivers' Championship gap to Michael Schumacher to twelve points. Häkkinen remained third, six points clear of Barrichello. Fisichella remained in fifth place.<ref name="points" /> McLaren's one-two finish cut Ferrari's lead in the World Constructors' Championship to six points. Williams had gained two points on Benetton but were still one point behind. Jordan maintained fifth place with eleven points, with eight races remaining in the season.<ref name="points" />
Race classificationEdit
Drivers who scored championship points are denoted in bold.
Championship standings after the raceEdit
Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2
- Drivers' Championship standings
| +/– | Template:Tooltip | Driver | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 1 | Template:Flagicon Michael Schumacher | 56 | |
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 2 | Template:Flagicon David Coulthard | 44 | |
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 3 | Template:Flagicon Mika Häkkinen | 38 | |
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 4 | Template:Flagicon Rubens Barrichello | 32 | |
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 5 | Template:Flagicon Giancarlo Fisichella | 18 | |
| Sources:<ref name=points/><ref name="Championship standings">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |||
- Constructors' Championship standings
| +/– | Template:Tooltip | Constructor | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 1 | Template:Flagicon Ferrari | 88 |
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 2 | Template:Flagicon McLaren-Mercedes | 82 |
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 3 | Template:Flagicon Benetton-Playlife | 18 |
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 4 | Template:Flagicon Williams-BMW | 17 |
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 5 | Template:Flagicon Jordan-Mugen-Honda | 11 |
| Sources:<ref name=points/><ref name="Championship standings"/> | |||
- Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.
ReferencesEdit
Template:S-start
|- style="text-align:center"
|width="35%"|Previous race:
2000 Canadian Grand Prix
|width="30%"|Template:Nowrap
Template:Ifnumber
|width="35%"|Next race:
2000 Austrian Grand Prix
|- style="text-align:center"
|width="35%"|Previous race:
1999 French Grand Prix
|width="30%"|French Grand Prix
|width="35%"|Next race:
2001 French Grand Prix
|- style="text-align:center"
{{#if: | Template:Succession box }}
|- style="text-align:center"
{{#if: | Template:Designated European Grand Prix }}
|- style="text-align:center"
{{#if: | Template:S-ach }}
|- style="text-align:center"
{{#if: | Template:F1 Promotional Trophy }}
|- style="text-align:center"
{{#if: | | {{ #if: | Template:S-ach }} }}
|- style="text-align:center"
{{#if: | Template:Succession box }}
Template:S-end
Template:F1GP 00-09
Template:Portal bar