2000 Spanish Grand Prix
Template:Short description Template:Good article Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox Grand Prix race report The 2000 Spanish Grand Prix (formally the XLII Gran Premio Marlboro de España) was a Formula One motor race held on 7 May 2000 at the Circuit de Catalunya, in Montmeló, Catalonia, Spain with approximately 79,000 spectators. It was the fifth round of the 2000 Formula One World Championship and the 42nd Spanish Grand Prix. Mika Häkkinen of McLaren won the 65-lap race after starting second. His teammate David Coulthard finished second, with Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello third.
Michael Schumacher led the World Drivers' Championship from Häkkinen, and Ferrari led the World Constructors' Championship from McLaren entering the race. He set the fastest qualifying lap to start on pole position and held off Häkkinen on the first lap. Schumacher led until his first pit stop on lap 24, when Ferrari chief mechanic Nigel Stepney was injured by Schumacher's right-rear tyre after Schumacher was incorrectly instructed to leave his box before the stop was completed. This moved Häkkinen to the race lead, which he held until his pit stop two laps later. Michael Schumacher led for the next 22 laps as he and Häkkinen made their second pit stops together, with Häkkinen taking the lead after a refuelling error slowed Schumacher's pit stop. Häkkinen led the final 22 laps to achieve his first win of the season and 15th of his career.
The victory moved Häkkinen into second place in the World Drivers' Championship, fourteen points behind Michael Schumacher. Coulthard dropped to third after finishing second, and Barrichello's third place put him one point ahead of Ralf Schumacher. McLaren's one-two finish in the World Constructors' Championship brought them within seven points of leaders Ferrari. With 12 races remaining in the season, Williams remained third with 15 points.
BackgroundEdit
The 2000 Spanish Grand Prix was the fifth of seventeen races in the 2000 Formula One World Championship, held on 7 May 2000, at the Template:Convert clockwise Circuit de Catalunya in Montmeló, Catalonia, Spain,<ref name="CF1Race" /><ref name="ESPNResults" /> following a two-week break from the preceding Template:F1GP.<ref name="Goodman2000">Template:Cite book</ref> The Grand Prix featured eleven teams of two drivers each (each representing a different constructor), with no changes from the season entry list.<ref name="entrants">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Sole tyre supplier Bridgestone brought the soft and medium dry compound tyres to the event.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Before the race, Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher led the World Drivers' Championship with 34 points, ahead of McLaren teammates David Coulthard (14 points) and Mika Häkkinen (12 points). Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello and Williams' Ralf Schumacher were tied for fourth with nine points.<ref name=points>Template:Cite book</ref> Ferrari led the World Constructors' Championship with 43 points, 17 more than second-placed McLaren. Williams were third with twelve points, while Benetton and Jordan were fourth with eight points each.<ref name=points/>
Following the British Grand Prix on 23 April, all teams conducted in-season testing at the circuit from 25 to 28 April in preparation for the Spanish Grand Prix.<ref name="FIAUpdate">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Despite spinning into the gravel early in the session, Jos Verstappen was the fastest for Arrows on the first day of testing, ahead of McLaren test driver Olivier Panis.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Michael Schumacher was the quickest on the second and third days.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":0" /> The third day was hampered by several drivers stopping on the circuit due to car problems.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On the final day, which was held in wet weather in the morning and during the end of the session, Michael Schumacher again remained quickest.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Coulthard was leasing his friend and Rangers F.C. chairman David Murray's Learjet the week before the race when a ball bearing failure shut down the left engine en route to Côte d'Azur International Airport in Nice and crashed while attempting an emergency landing at Lyon-Satolas Airport in France. Coulthard, his then-girlfriend American model Heidi Wichlinski and personal trainer/bodyguard Andy Matthews survived; Murray's personal pilot David Saunders and co-pilot Dan Worley died.<ref name="RowlinsonBiography">Template:Cite book</ref> Coulthard sustained bruises to his right rib cage and severe grazed elbows in the crash. FIA Formula One Safety and Medical Delegate Sid Watkins declared Coulthard fit to race.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Coulthard's survival from the accident was the main focus of comment in the motorsport media before the Grand Prix.<ref name="Goodman2000" />
British American Racing (BAR) driver Jacques Villeneuve was passed fit prior to the event. At the Template:F1GP, Villeneuve sustained a back injury after his seat became loose during the race, and the worsening effects caused him to withdraw from testing in Barcelona.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He also had to go through physiotherapy. Darren Manning, BAR's official test driver, was on standby to replace Villeneuve if necessary.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Some teams modified their cars for the event. Most teams continued to refine their vehicles' aerodynamic profiles, but no significant technical innovations were introduced at the Grand Prix.<ref name=AutosprintTech>Template:Cite journal
Template:Cite journal</ref> Minardi debuted Formula One's first titanium-constructed gearbox.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web
}}</ref> It was Template:Convert lighter than magnesium gearboxes, provided greater rigidity, and was cost-effective.<ref name=AutosprintTech/> Prost modified their cars' oil systems to improve engine reliability, and made minor aerodynamic changes to the front wing and floor. The team also used an updated Peugeot A20 EV2 engine during Friday's practice sessions before reverting to the EV3 for the rest of the weekend.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web
}}</ref> BAR installed a new car aerodynamic packages, which included new bargeboards and rear wings.<ref name=fripractice>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web
}}</ref> The Williams team equipped their cars with cast titanium hub carriers, but they were not used in the race because they interfered with the brake vents operation.<ref name=AutosprintTech/>
PracticeEdit
The race was preceded by four practice sessions, two one-hour sessions on Friday and two 45-minute sessions on Saturday.<ref name="regulations">Template:Cite book</ref> The Friday practice sessions were dry and overcast, but previous rainfall and undercard events made the track dirty,<ref name=fripractice/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> preventing all but nine drivers from setting a time and seven attempted a quick lap. The fastest laps were recorded late in practice.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Michael Schumacher led with a lap of 1:21.982 at his second attempt to set a fast time,<ref name=SpeedvisionFriday>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> half a second quicker than his teammate Barrichello in second. Häkkinen was third, Ralf Schumacher fourth and Prost's Jean Alesi fifth. The two Benetton drivers were sixth and eighth, Giancarlo Fisichella ahead of Alexander Wurz; Sauber's Johnny Herbert was seventh. Jaguar's Eddie Irvine and Verstappen were ninth and tenth.<ref name=fripractice/>
In the second practice session, Michael Schumacher was unable to lap faster but remained fastest;<ref name="atlasfrip2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Ralf Schumacher went second-fastest with a new set of tyres towards the end of the session.<ref name="fripractice" /> In positions three through ten were Barrichello, Jordan's Jarno Trulli, Coulthard, Williams' Jenson Button. Häkkinen, Sauber's Pedro Diniz, Jordan's Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Alesi.<ref name="atlasfrip2" /> Pedro de la Rosa lost control of his Arrows car under braking and was beached in the gravel trap, prompting the yellow flags to appear briefly.<ref name="fripractice" /><ref name=SpeedvisionFriday/> Fisichella spun 360 degrees backwards into the gravel trap at the Renault corner, then spun again at the next right-hand turn.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The weather remained dry for the Saturday morning practice sessions.<ref name="satfia">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Coulthard set the third session's fastest lap, 1:21.370, ahead of teammate Häkkinen, who was two-tenths of a second slower; both drivers set their fastest times on new tyres.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Ralf Schumacher, Michael Schumacher, Villeneuve, Fisichella and Frentzen made up positions three to seven.<ref name=GF1PracticeSat/> The two Arrows drivers were eighth and ninth (with Verstappen ahead of De La Rosa) after setting identical lap times that topped the time sheets.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Sauber's Mika Salo was tenth-fastest.<ref name=GF1PracticeSat>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> During practice, no yellow flags were waved, though Frentzen briefly drove onto the grass late in the session.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
During the final practice session, Michael Schumacher set the fastest lap of 1:21.088 on new tyres; Coulthard was second. Barrichello was third fastest after finishing 14th the previous session.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He lapped faster than Häkkinen, who struggled with a lack of grip and a loose rear end. Ralf Schumacher set the fifth-fastest time. Jordan's drivers were sixth and seventh, Trulli ahead of Frentzen and ahead of De La Rosa, Villeneuve, and Button.<ref name="satfia" />
QualifyingEdit
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Saturday afternoon's one-hour qualifying session saw each driver limited to twelve laps, with the grid order decided by their fastest laps. During this session, the 107% rule was in effect, requiring each driver to remain within 107 per cent of the fastest lap time to qualify for the race.<ref name="regulations" /> The session was held in sunny and hot weather.<ref name="satfia" /><ref name="temp">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Michael Schumacher took his first pole position of the season and 24th of his career with a time of 1:20.974 on a headwind-affected second run 43 minutes in,<ref name="atlasquali">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=MSCPoleAutosport>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> going more than a second quicker than the 1999 pole lap.<ref name=MSCPoleAutosport/> Häkkinen joined him on the grid's front row after lapping 0.076 seconds slower in the final seconds and held pole until Schumacher's lap.<ref name="Goodman2000" /><ref name="F12000SeasonBook">Template:Cite book</ref> Barrichello qualified third, feeling his car did not feel good having not made any changes.<ref name="satfia" /> Coulthard, fourth, lost time early in qualifying due to an engine fuel pressure pick-up issue.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He did not drive the spare McLaren set up for Häkkinen, believing it to be time-consuming, and he had to drive with extra fuel added by his mechanics.<ref name="F12000SeasonBook" /><ref name="satfia" /><ref name="atlasquali" /><ref name="gprace">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Ralf Schumacher, fifth, had excessive oversteer, which prevented him from lapping faster.<ref name="atlasquali" /> Villeneuve qualified sixth and said he achieved the best from his car.<ref name="satfia" /> Both Jordan drivers lined up the grid's fourth row (with Trulli ahead of Frentzen), believing they could have a better starting position because of windy conditions.<ref name="satfia" /><ref name="atlasquali" />
De La Rosa and Irvine were ninth and tenth.<ref name="F12000SeasonBook" /> Later that day, the FIA in a mobile laboratory analysed a fuel sample from De La Rosa's car and declared it illegal because it did not match an earlier sample. Arrows announced it would appeal the decision, allowing de la Rosa to keep his starting spot.<ref name="Goodman2000" /><ref name="gprace" /> Button. eleventh, reported crosswinds made his car unstable.<ref name="JonesBUT2009">Template:Cite book</ref> He was faster than Verstappen in the slower Arrows car, Salo in the faster Sauber after losing time in the first third of the lap, and Fisichella, who could not lap faster due to low track grip.<ref name="atlasquali" /><ref name=DF1SatQuotes>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Herbert, 15th, lost his front wing mounted television camera held on by a thin cable after hitting a kerb early in qualifying.<ref name="satfia" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He made a minor error that prevented him from qualifying higher. Diniz (16th) had excessive oversteer.<ref name="satfia" /> Ricardo Zonta, seventeenth, was unable to find a suitable set-up for his BAR car, and his best lap was nine-tenths of a second slower than teammate Villeneuve's. Alesi qualified eighteenth and was unable to lap faster due to hydraulic issues and circuit cooling. He was ahead of Wurz in nineteenth, who struggled with grip and car setup.<ref name=DF1SatQuotes/> Heidfeld's engine failed on the circuit, and marshals extinguished a small fire when he returned to the pit lane.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He drove the spare Prost car setup for his teammate Alesi and qualified 20th.<ref name=DF1SatQuotes/> The two Minardi drivers Marc Gené and Gastón Mazzacane were 21st and 22nd.<ref name="F12000SeasonBook" />
Qualifying classificationEdit
Note:
- <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^1{{#if:| }} Pedro de la Rosa had started at the back of the grid for using illegal fuel in qualifying.<ref name=gprace/>
Warm-upEdit
The drivers took to the track at 09:30 Central European Summer Time (UTC+2) for a 30-minute warm-up<ref name="regulations" /> in cool and dry weather. Despite going into the gravel after braking too deeply, Michael Schumacher set a lap of 1:22.855 to lead a session for the fifth time that weekend, and also drove the spare Ferrari. Häkkinen was second-fastest; Barrichello was third, followed by Coulthard in fourth.<ref name="FIAWarmUp">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> De La Rosa ran into the gravel trap at Elf corner after his engine cut out;<ref name="FIAWarmUp" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> he returned to the pit lane to use the spare Arrows vehicle.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Coulthard was launched airborne during a lap when he mounted the kerb at the final turn, but his vehicle was undamaged.<ref name="FIAWarmUp" /> After the session, Arrows withdrew their appeal after accepting the FIA's findings, and De La Rosa was required to start at the back of the field.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
RaceEdit
The grid conditions were dry and particularly cloudy before the race; the air temperature ranged between Template:Convert and the track temperature was between Template:Convert.<ref name="temp" /> The race, which began before approximately 79,000 people at 14:00 local time, lasted 65 laps on a dry track for Template:Convert.<ref name="CF1Race" /><ref name="F12000SeasonBook" /><ref name="gprace" /> Michael Schumacher and Häkkinen intended to make two pit stops during the Grand Prix, with Schumacher, the only driver in the field, opting for medium compound tyres rather than soft compound tyres.<ref name="F1MagReport">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=AutosportAnalysis>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Ralf Schumacher began in a spare Williams car after his race car developed an engine sensor problem the day before.<ref name="f1comrace">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> There was not an abundance of overtaking, so the race was decided by pit stops.<ref name="SpeedvisionRace">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web
}}</ref>
Häkkinen made a better start than Michael Schumacher, who steered right across the circuit to block Häkkinen's path on the outside when the race began. Consequence, Häkkinen was unable to make a strong challenge to Michael Schumacher while braking for Elf corner.<ref name=F1MagReport/><ref name=F1NetReport>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref> Ralf Schumacher got away quickly, passing Coulthard and the slow-starting Barrichello for third.<ref name="fiarace">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Ralf Schumacher collided with the rear of Häkkinen's car on a large amount of dust as it exited the first right-hand turn, sending Häkkinen slightly sideways. Both drivers were able to continue, with Häkkinen ahead of Ralf Schumacher by being on the inside for the next left-hand turn.<ref name="gprace" /><ref name=AF1Review>Template:Cite journal</ref> By the end of the first lap, Button had moved up from eleventh to ninth, while Irvine had dropped three places.<ref name="fiarace" /> Diniz retired after spinning into the gravel after driving onto dirt on the outside of turn three.<ref name="f1comrace" /><ref name="quotes">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> At the conclusion of lap one, the top six drivers were Michael Schumacher, Häkkinen, Ralf Schumacher, Coulthard, Barrichello, and Villeneuve.<ref name=AF1Review/> Michael Schumacher began to pull away from Häkkinen.<ref name="fiarace" /> On lap two, De La Rosa collided with Alesi's rear at Wurth corner, forcing Alesi to retire. De La Rosa's front wing broke and retired after beaching in the gravel trap at Campsa corner.<ref name="f1comrace" /><ref name="fiarace" /> Simultaneously, Irvine overtook Verstappen for twelfth position.<ref name="fiarace" /> For the next 16 laps, the gap between Michael Schumacher and the heavily-fuelled Häkkinen fluctuated from 1.6 seconds to 3.4 seconds due to driving through slower traffic, while Coulthard and Barrichello battled Ralf Schumacher for third place.<ref name=AutosportAnalysis/><ref name="lapchart">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Further back, Villeneuve was delaying Frentzen, Trulli, Button, Salo as the top five pulled away.<ref name="F12000SeasonBook" /> Green flag pit stops began on the 18th lap, with three drivers stopping. On the next lap, Button made his first pit stop and rejoined in front of Mazzacane.<ref name="f1comrace" /><ref name="fiarace" /> Villeneuve made his only pit stop on the 22nd lap;<ref name="f1comrace" /> Frentzen was promoted to sixth.<ref name="fiarace" /> After rejoining the circuit, his car caught fire after telemetry detected a drop in fuel pressure, and he pulled off the track at the exit of the long right-hand Renault corner.<ref name="gprace" /><ref name="quotes" /><ref name=AutosportReport>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Trulli's pit stop, which dropped him to 17th, proved problematic: he stalled his engine, requiring his mechanics to restart it. Ralf Schumacher made a pit stop one lap later and rejoined in fifth.<ref name="fiarace" />
On lap 24, Michael Schumacher made his pit stop.<ref name="F12000SeasonBook" /> Mechanic Federico Ugozzoni raised the signboard a second before the fuel hose was removed from the Ferrari and Schumacher accelerated from his pit box.<ref name="Goodman2000" /><ref name="F12000SeasonBook" /> Two mechanics attempted to remove the clogged fuel hose from the car's receptacle.<ref name="AF1Review" /> Schumacher's right rear wheel struck Ferrari's chief mechanic, Nigel Stepney, who was assisting the refueller.<ref name="F1MagReport" /><ref name="SpeedvisionRace" /> Stepney was dragged before being knocked over;<ref name="gprace" /><ref name="fiarace" /> he was taken to the circuit's medical centre for observation before an X-ray examination in Paris revealed a compound fracture of the tibia and stretched leg tendons.<ref name="F1MagReport" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="DTStepney" /> Stepney, who was replaced by reserve refuller Andrea Vacari,<ref name="gprace" /><ref name=AutosportReport/> was ruled out for the following two Template:Not a typo.<ref name="DTStepney">Template:Cite news</ref> Coulthard made a pit stop on the same lap and had trouble exiting his pit box because he selected second gear. He re-emerged behind Ralf Schumacher.<ref name="gprace" /> At the end of lap 26, Häkkinen made his first pit stop and fell behind Michael Schumacher. On the next lap, Verstappen retired in the pit lane due to a gear selection fault.<ref name="f1comrace" /><ref name="quotes" />
All the leaders had made their stops by the start of lap 28. The top six in the running order were Michael Schumacher, Häkkinen, Ralf Schumacher, Barrichello, Coulthard and Button.<ref name="lapchart" /> Häkkinen set the race's fastest lap on the same lap, a 1:24.470 as he started to gain on Michael Schumacher. Ralf Schumacher again was pressured by Coulthard in fourth.<ref name="fiarace" /><ref name="lapchart" /> Häkkinen did not attempt to overtake the race leader,<ref name=AF1Review/> as Michael Schumacher was on the harder compound tyres.<ref name="F12000SeasonBook" /> Twelve laps later, Coulthard entered the pit lane for seven-and-a-half seconds in his attempt to pass Ralf Schumacher and Barrichello. This triggered the second round of pit stops for the front-runners. Ralf Schumacher and Barrichello made a pit stop on the following lap and rejoined behind Coulthard after being overtaken by Coulthard on the outside at Elf corner.<ref name=SpeedvisionRace/><ref name=F1NetReport/> Michael Schumacher and Häkkinen made their pit stops on the 42nd lap, with Häkkinen emerging ahead after a stop lasting 6.7 seconds because Michael Schumacher's pit stop was problematic.<ref name=AutosportAnalysis/><ref name="f1comrace" /> The mechanics began refuelling as Vacari had difficulty fitting the fuel pump into the fuel tank neck after the tyres were installed. This meant Schumacher was stationary for ten seconds longer than usual.<ref name="Goodman2000" /><ref name="gprace" /><ref name=F1MagReport/> Salo and Zonta entered the pit lane on lap 45, promoting Button to sixth.<ref name="fiarace" />
Coulthard closed up to Michael Schumacher (who was slowed by around 1.5 to 2 seconds per lap with air leaking from his left rear tyre) by lap 46.<ref name=F1MagReport /> Coulthard attempted to overtake Michael Schumacher on the inside of the pit lane straight into the first corner of the following lap, intending to slow Schumacher at the right-hand turn. As a blocking manoeuvre, Schumacher steered right into Coulthard's path at the last possible moment.<ref name=F1MagReport/><ref name=AF1Review/> The two drivers narrowly avoided a collision and Coulthard almost drove onto the grass.<ref name="F12000SeasonBook" /><ref name="gprace" /> Michael Schumacher's left-rear tyre slowed him at the last right-hand turn.<ref name=AF1Review/> Coulthard had better traction and steered to the outside on lap 48, passing Michael Schumacher (who steered right to defend) by braking later into Elf corner.<ref name=AF1Review/><ref name=AutosportReport/> Ralf Schumacher drew close to Michael Schumacher on the 50th lap.<ref name="lapchart" /> Ralf Schumacher attempted to overtake Michael Schumacher on the outside on the same lap at La Caixa corner, but was blocked by his elder brother.<ref name=F1MagReport /><ref name=AF1Review/> Ralf Schumacher was forced wide, losing momentum, and pulling back into the following Banc Sabadell turn.<ref name="gprace" /><ref name=SpeedvisionRace/> This allowed Barrichello to pass both drivers on the inside for third.<ref name=AF1Review/>
Michael Schumacher entered the pit lane on lap 51 for a new set of tyres. He remained fifth, ahead of Button, who was significantly behind Schumacher.<ref name=F1MagReport/><ref name=AF1Review/> He immediately set new personal fastest laps in an effort to catch Ralf Schumacher.<ref name="f1comrace" /> However, the order was stable at the front of the field, with Häkkinen leading significantly over Coulthard and Ralf Schumacher dropping back from Barrichello.<ref name="fiarace" /> Button, sixth, retired at the side of the circuit on lap 63,<ref name="f1comrace" /> with smoke billowing from his engine that failed without warning.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Häkkinen maintained his lead to achieve his first victory of 2000 and the 15th of his Formula One career following the 1999 Japanese Grand Prix the previous season in a time of 1:33.55.390 at an average speed of Template:Convert after 65 laps.<ref name=CBSAP>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="classification" /> Coulthard drove with three cracked right-hand side eighth and tenth ribs, as well as a bruised right chest wall.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He finished second, 16 seconds behind his teammate.<ref name=CBSAP/> Barrichello was third, with Ralf Schumacher fourth, Michael Schumacher fifth and Frentzen was the final points-scorer in sixth. Salo, Zonta, Fisichella, Wurz and Irvine were the next five finishers, and Trulli, Herbert, Gené (who lacked fuel in his car), Mazzacane, Heidfeld and Button (despite his retirement) were the final classified finishers.<ref name="gprace" /><ref name="classification">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Post-raceEdit
The top three drivers appeared on the podium to receive their trophies and later spoke at a press conference.<ref name="regulations" /> Häkkinen said that he was "pleased" to win the race, and admitted to waiting until the pit stop phase to have any chance of overtaking Michael Schumacher. He said that McLaren had more work to do on his car and was looking forward to the next race.<ref name=pressconf>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Coulthard believed he made the right decision to race despite his injuries, and that the result was "the best thing that could have happened for the team and myself."<ref name=pressconf/> He also said he was looking forward to resting over the coming days to allow his injuries to heal.<ref name=pressconf/> Barrichello admitted that the race had not been good for him until his overtake on Michael Schumacher and Ralf Schumacher, and said the absence of Stepney caused his second pit stop to be slower than usual.<ref name=pressconf/>
Attention focused on the battle between Ralf Schumacher and Michael Schumacher during the race. Michael Schumacher blamed his brother for the move and did not understand why he was upset about it. Ralf Schumacher made no comment and stated that he would watch a video of the incident before commenting. Rolf, their father, spoke with the two brothers in an attempt to reconcile the two drivers.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Ralf Schumacher said a week after the race that tensions between him and his brother had subsided and that there was no resentment between them, saying, "It's a lot of fun when we are out there on the track duelling against each other."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> There was similar ill-feeling between de la Rosa and Alesi after their collision on lap two. Alesi accused de la Rosa of blocking him and causing the crash by failing to check his mirrors, while de la Rosa claimed he tried to overtake him in a difficult corner.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Ron Dennis, the McLaren team owner, called it "very good outcome" and was pleased with his team's strategy, saying: "It's a great day, particularly satisfying not only when you think of the pressure that's unique to catching up, but also the circumstances of the week, with David's accident."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Ferrari team principal Jean Todt admitted that his team were disappointed with their final result, but added: "However, we have always known that even a big advantage can easily be reduced. It was a good fight between Michael and Hakkinen, at least up to the second pitstop."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Following the race, Michael Schumacher apologised to Stepney for injuring him.<ref name="DTStepney" />
The final results moved Häkkinen from third to second in the World Drivers' Championship, reducing Michael Schumacher's lead from 20 to 14 points. Coulthard's second-place finish dropped him to third, two points behind Häkkinen. Ralf Schumacher fell to fifth with 12 points, while Barrichello moved to fourth with 13 points.<ref name="points" /> Ferrari maintained their World Constructors' Championship lead, but McLaren's one-two finish brought them within seven points. Williams remained third with nine points. Frentzen's sixth-place finish moved Jordan into fourth place, one point ahead of Benetton in fifth, with twelve 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 | 36 | |
| File:1uparrow green.svg 1 | 2 | Template:Flagicon Mika Häkkinen | 22 | |
| File:1downarrow red.svg 1 | 3 | Template:Flagicon David Coulthard | 20 | |
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 4 | Template:Flagicon Rubens Barrichello | 13 | |
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 5 | Template:Flagicon Ralf Schumacher | 12 | |
| Sources:<ref name=points/><ref name="Championship">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |||
- Constructors' Championship standings
| +/– | Template:Tooltip | Constructor | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 1 | Template:Flagicon Ferrari | 49 |
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 2 | Template:Flagicon McLaren-Mercedes | 42 |
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 3 | Template:Flagicon Williams-BMW | 15 |
| File:1uparrow green.svg 1 | 4 | Template:Flagicon Jordan-Mugen-Honda | 9 |
| File:1downarrow red.svg 1 | 5 | Template:Flagicon Benetton-Playlife | 8 |
| Sources:<ref name=points/><ref name="Championship"/> | |||
- 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 British Grand Prix
|width="30%"|Template:Nowrap
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|width="35%"|Next race:
2000 European Grand Prix
|- style="text-align:center"
|width="35%"|Previous race:
1999 Spanish Grand Prix
|width="30%"|Spanish Grand Prix
|width="35%"|Next race:
2001 Spanish 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
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