2000 Formula One World Championship

[OliDegu2008]

Barrichello holds off Michael Schumacher, David Coulthard to win in France

7/2/2000 – Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny-Cours, France – Race #9 – The French Grand Prix

It was a damp, gloomy and muggy day in Magny-Cours located in central France Sunday as the drivers took to the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours for the 2000 French Grand Prix.

David Coulthard and Michael Schumacher qualified first and second on the grid in front of twenty of the world’s finest motorsport athletes who themselves were ready to race.

As the field went LIGHTS OUT!!! it was a clean first corner for the entire field as David Coulthard led his competitors into the first speed zone.

Not even a quarter lap into the Grand Prix and problems arose, this time for the Jordan team and Jarno Trulli. As Trulli went to accelerate coming out of turn five you could hear an audible crack and then the rising of smoke from Trulli’s engine - the Italian would become the days’ first retirement. Also, that marks 8/9 Grand Prix’s this year that Trulli has not finished.

As McLaren’s David Coulthard led the field to the start/finish line to begin lap six, he was followed by Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello, Jacques Villeneuve, Mika Hakkinen and Heinz-Harald Frentzen.

Jenson Button and Mika Salo who both qualified at the back of the pack had made their way into the top ten.

Lap seven would see the Grand Prix’s second retirement belong to hometown favorite and Prost’s Jean Alesi due to a transmission issue. Alesi was visibly upset and it was a shame as the Frenchman was hoping to do better for his supporters in the stands.

Things got squirrely on lap nine when Marc Gene spun out entering turn eight and was forced to retire his Minardi machine, also bringing out a safety car. Gene complained that he was forced off the track causing him to lose control but replays showed that was not the case.

More importantly the safety car would prove perfect for Ferrari but disastrous for McLaren as on the restart David Coulthard (race leader) missed a gear and was passed by Rubens Barrichello and Michael Schumacher. Mika Hakkinen now claimed fourth followed by the darting Mika Salo and Heinz-Harald Frentzen.

Barrichello and Schumacher fought each other (at the behest of the team) for the next few laps but ultimately Schumacher voided the position and gave way to the quicker Barrichello.

Lap twenty-one saw near disaster as Jos Verstappen was entering the pits and nearly ran down a McLaren pit crew member. Luckily those men and women are nimble folk.

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Disaster struck Nick Heidfeld on lap twenty-nine as the young German misjudged turn three and found himself in a non-working race car. Heidfeld was forced to retire.

Rubens Barrichello had widened the gap entering lap thirty and led David Coulthard (now in second) by two seconds. Michael Schumacher could be heard on the radio not liking his car’s setup and it showed as he struggled with it all day until the end of the race.

The same can be said for current World Championship points leader Mika Hakkinen who made three pit stops before lap thirty and could be overhead saying not so nice things to his team boss over the radio.

Lap thirty-one would see the races’ fifth retirement of the day, that being the Jaguar of Britain Johnny Herbert. Herbert clipped a hard spot on the circuit entering turn eight and spun out – Herbert was ok but his car was not.

As Rubens Barrichello continued to pull away disaster struck McLaren yet again on lap thiry-six as Mika Hakkinen engaged in a fierce battle for third position with Michael Schumacher.

Leaving turn fifteen and entering the start/finish line Schumacher clipped Hakkinen on the overtake and Hakkinen crashed into the barricade, ending his day and bringing out a safety car.

The race would restart two laps later with Rubens Barrichello leading David Coulthard and Michael Schumacher.

A planned strategy worked to perfection for Ferrari as Rubens Barrichello was able to bunch the field up just long enough on the restart to allow Michael Schumacher to dive below a stalling David Coulthard and takeover second place. Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Mika Salo, Ralf Schumacher and Giancarlo Fisichella were all battling for points positions.

Lap fifty-two saw trouble strike the Arrows’ machine of Pedro de la Rosa as the Spaniard was forced to retire due to an engine issue.

With just fifteen laps left Rubens Barrichello was in a different position than earlier in the race as the Brazilian was battling to keep his position against fellow teammate Michael Schumacher and David Coulthard.

As Barrichello entered turn one for the final time of the 2000 Grand Prix he was able to make up some ground and seemingly had to just not make any critical errors and he would win his second Grand Prix of 2000.

It was fortunate for Barrichello that Michael Schumacher and David Coulthard were spending all their energy on each other in a fierce battle for second – a battle that ultimately would see Coulthard finish before Schumacher, just mere hundredths ahead.

As the checkered flag flew it was Rubens Barrichello who crossed first – winning the 2000 French Grand Prix. Behind him was McLaren’s David Coulthard finishing in second, Michael Schumacher, Ralf Schumacher, Mika Salo and Heinz-Harald Frentzen. Salo did an incredible job all day managing himself from starting nineteenth on the grid to a points finish.

Rounding out the top ten was Giancarlo Fisichella, Jenson Button, Jacques Villeneuve and Jos Verstappen.

For McLaren it is a well it could’ve been worse scenario. The Constructor scored some good points for themselves and Hakkinen only lost four points to Michael Schumacher (who finished third) and remains on top of the Championship standings by five points over the Ferrari driver.

With the victory, Rubens Barrichello is eight points behind his teammate and thirteen behind Hakkinen in the Championship standings.

In the Constructor’s standings, Ferrari scored fourteen points, McLaren six, Williams three, Sauber two and Jordan one. Ferrari leads the overall Constructors’ standing by nineteen points over rivals McLaren.

2000 Constructors' standings.png

[OliDegu2008]

2000 AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX
A1-Ring, Spielberg, Styria, Austria (71 Laps, 190 Miles)

Weekend of July 16 ---- Schedule of events
Friday, July 14 ---- Practice (Morning), Practice (Afternoon)
Saturday, July 15 ---- Practice (Morning 1), Practice (Morning 2), Qualifying (Afternoon)
Sunday, July 16 ---- Warm-up (Morning), Grand Prix

Drivers
McLaren - Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard
Ferrari - Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello
Jordan - Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Jarno Trulli
Jaguar - Luciano Burti and Johnny Herbert
Williams - Ralf Schumacher and Jenson Button
Benetton - Giancarlo Fisichella and Alexander Wurz
Prost - Jean Alesi and Nick Heidfeld
Sauber - Pedro Diniz and Mika Salo
Arrows - Pedro de la Rosa and Jos Verstappen
Minardi - Marc Gene and Gaston Mazzacane
BAR - Jacques Villeneuve and Ricardo Zonta

F1 2000 AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX COURSE MAP.png

[OliDegu2008]

2000 Austrian Grand Prix weekend report

• It's a McLaren 1 and 2 as Hakkinen and Coulthard make up the front of the grid
• Michael Schumacher will start third alongside Giancarlo Fisichella
• Austrian Alexander Wurz qualified in the top ten
• Eddie Irvine retires from weekend with appendicitis, replaced by Luciano Burti
• The forecast for Sunday's Grand Prix is variable wind, mild temps and the possibility of rainfall

Friday (7/14) – Practice's 1 and 2 – Formula One finds itself embedded in the Styrian Hills for this week’s Austrian Grand Prix at the A1-Ring. With the dazzling performance last week of Ferrari’s Rubens Barrichello, the Championship standings are as close as they’ve been all year with Michael Schumacher just five points behind Mika Hakkinen.

There were two practice sessions Friday, one in the morning and one in the afternoon and both were an hour long. The morning session saw summer like temps with variable winds and sunny skies. That meant a fast, slick track.

The McLaren’s of Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard were fastest in the morning session and paced the field. The Ferrari duo of Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello were behind them followed in tow by Ralf Schumacher, Jarno Trulli, Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Mika Salo.

Trouble struck Giancarlo Fisichella as the Italian ran into suspension issues early in the morning session and was forced to retire.

Very scary moment for Jean Alesi in his Prost machine when the brakes gave out entering turn three causing the Frenchman to go flying off the track. Alesi was ok, his car was not.

The lone Austrian in the field Alexander Wurz ran middle of the pack Friday morning along with Jenson Benson, Jacques Villeneuve and Johnny Herbert.
Neither Minardi driver spent much time on track due to engine issues.

Friday’s afternoon practice session saw much of the same weather with just a tad bit more wind.

The session saw the Ferrari’s of Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello pace the field with the Benetton’s of Giancarlo Fisichella and Alexander Wurz behind them.

Mika Hakkinen developed a very severe leg cramp and was forced to retire for the day just as the session was beginning. The latest diagnosis given to the media by McLaren was the cramp was caused by dehydration. Hakkinen will be ready to go for Saturday.

David Coulthard, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Ralf Schumacher, Jenson Button and Pedro de la Rosa all ran solid laps Friday afternoon that would have placed them in the top ten had it been qualifying.

It was not a good session for Sauber as Pedro Diniz had tyre issues and Mika Salo spun out entering turn nine – the error was completely on the driver.

Johnny Herbert saw his day come to a close with an oil leak while his teammate Eddie Irvine boxed about halfway through the session and it was a mystery as to why – even to his team.

After the session it was released that Irvine was taken to the infield medical care center and diagnosed with appendicitis. The Britain who is not having a good year will be replaced by Jaguar test driver Luciano Burti for the remainder of the weekend.

Saturday (7/15) – Practice's 3 and 4 – Both practice sessions Saturday were held in the morning and each lasted forty-five minutes. The weather was a reversal of Friday with cool temps, much wind and some rain drops spattering on the circuit.

That rain however did not stop Mika Hakkinen and Michael Schumacher from running fastest in the early morning session. It was literally a new fastest lap being set every time out for these two.

Jarno Trulli was not far behind the two legends followed by Ralf Schumacher, Jenson Button and Giancarlo Fisichella.

Rubens Barrichello only ran half of the first session Saturday morning as a budding hydraulics issue kept the Brazilian off the track and in the garage.

Trouble struck David Coulthard midway through the practice session when he veered off the circuit onto a patch of wet grass and spun out. He would be ok.

Jos Verstappen and teammate Pedro de la Rosa had a heated exchange in their garage following an on-track dispute. Per the replay, it appeared that Verstappen did not concede a free pass to de la Rosa on a flying lap, instead blocking the Spaniard. It most likely was an oversight by Verstappen but we never really know, do we?

After having a fast day Friday, Alexander Wurz’ pace dropped off and the Austrian was running down in the cellar with the Minardis and the Prosts.

Saturday’s second morning practice session saw the rain disappear and the sun send down some nice sunbeams to the track. The wind was still moderate but the temperatures were back at their summer time normal in Austria.

David Coulthard having recovered from his spin earlier Saturday morning set the fastest lap time in the final practice session.

He was followed by Mika Hakkinen, Rubens Barrichello, Michael Schumacher, Jenson Button, Giancarlo Fisichella and Mika Salo.

Jacques Villeneuve who has not had a good weekend so far in Austria retired from the final practice session early due to a coolant mixture leak. He would be back on the track for qualifying later in the day.

Jarno Trulli’s pace fell off after a tyre issue forced the Italian to box within the first ten minutes of the final session.

Nick Heidfeld was the lone accident victim in the final practice as the German spun out entering turn three.

Saturday – Qualifying – Qualifying was one hour and each driver was limited to twelve laps with the grid order formed by the driver’s fastest laps. The sun had parted the Styrian Hills yet again and clouds covered the A1-Ring with some wind and mild temps.

It will be a one-two McLaren punch on the front of the grid to start the Grand Prix Sunday as Mika Hakkinen earned his third pole of the year, qualifying just hundredths in front of teammate David Coulthard.

Behind the McLarens will be Michael Schumacher and Benetton’s Giancarlo Fisichella. This is Fisichella’s best qualifying effort of the year to date.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen will start fifth on the grid alongside Rubens Barrichello whom said it was a challenge to qualify well. Barrichello said his car felt fourteenth or fifteenth at best, not top ten.

Rounding out the top ten grid is Ralf Schumacher, Jarno Trulli, Alexander Wurz and Jacques Villeneuve.

Jenson Button will start a disappointing twelfth with Johnny Herbert, Ricardo Zonta and Pedro Diniz accompanying him.

Jaguar back-up driver (replacing Eddie Irvine) Luciano Burti qualified last and will start twenty-second on the grid.

The latest weather report for Sunday’s Grand Prix calls for the possibility of rain with some wind and mild temps.

2000 Austrian GP Q.png

[OliDegu2008]

Mika Hakkinen dominates in Austria as Schumacher falters

7/16/2000 – A1-Ring, Spielberg, Styria, Austria – Race #10 – The Austrian Grand Prix

As the twenty-two warriors settled in for 71 laps on one of the finest circuits Formula One visits, a slight mist accrued on the drivers helmets and the wind swirled.

It was a McLaren lockout on the front of the grid with Mika Hakkinen on pole with teammate David Coulthard alongside. Trailing Hakkinen in the World Championship standings is Michael Schumacher who desperately needed a good day to recover some recent points he has lost due to race retirements. Schumacher started third behind the two McLarens.

The drivers closed and locked their visors, revved their engines and we were LIGHTS OUT!!!! Mika Hakkinen had a horrid that saw the Finn drop three positions to Michael Schumacher, David Coulthard and Jarno Trulli.

Michael Schumacher would lead the field around turns six and seven when a terrible accident occurred behind him involving his brother Ralf Schumacher, Jacques Villeneuve and Jos Verstappen.

Per the replays, it shows Villeneuve trying a very aggressive move on Schumacher which saw the two touch and crash out of control. As the field behind them attempted to navigate to safety Jos Verstappen could not and ran over some debris causing unrepairable damage to his Arrows’ machine. It was the end of the day for all three drivers who were all visibly angry and upset.

After the safety car cleared the track it was time to race again. Michael Schumacher kept his lap one lead followed closely by David Coulthard, Mika Hakkinen, Jarno Trulli and Jenson Button.

Lap eight saw the race’s second lead change, this time it was Mika Hakkinen surpassing rival Michael Schumacher heading into turn ten. It was a blazing move that was deserved of the top spot on the track.

Quickly Mika Hakkinen and Michael Schumacher broke away from the rest of the field, using each other’s momentum to better each other almost every lap.

Lap twenty-four yet again saw Michael Schumacher pass Hakkinen for the lead. Hakkinen’s tyres looked to be worn and such radio chatter between McLaren and their driver confirmed our suspicions.

Trouble struck first year driver Jenson Button on lap twenty-six when he was forced to retire his Williams’ due to an electrical issue.

Two laps later, another safety car was deployed for Pedro de la Rosa who spun off the circuit in turn nine and was unable to continue.

It was a very quick safety car but the re-coming together of the field allowed Mika Hakkinen to buzz saw past Michael Schumacher for the lead. The two Championship contenders once again quickly found themselves extending their pace from the rest of the field.

Prost’s Jean Alesi lost control of his machine and was forced to retire on lap thirty-six. That is four straight retirements now for Alesi.

Entering lap forty Mika Hakkinen continued to lead followed by Michael Schumacher, David Coulthard, Rubens Barrichello, Jarno Trulli and Mika Salo. Austrian Alexander Wurz was also making moves and was in the top ten – much to the crowds excitement.

Lap forty-three saw tragedy strike Ferrari as Michael Schumacher had his right front tyre blow out forcing the German into a nasty spin entering turn four. Schumacher would be ok but his car would not and he retired from the race.

With Schumacher’s retirement, Mika Hakkinen had a clear path to victory it seemed as his pace was just clearly better than everyone else’s. David Coulthard now commanded second position followed in tow by Rubens Barrichello, Jarno Trulli and Alexander Wurz.

2000 AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX RESULTS.png

Jaguar fill-in Luciano Burti saw his day come to a crashing halt on lap forty-six due to engine issues. The Brazilian replacement for an ill Eddie Irvine was running near last since the prix began.

As the race entered its final third, Mika Hakkinen had established quite the lead over now second place driver Rubens Barrichello and David Coulthard. Barrichello made good on a Coulthard braking mistake and was able to overtake the Britain for second.

Lap fifty-six would see Gaston Mazzacane retire after the Minardi driver miscalculated turn ten and spun off the circuit.

A little drama between Nick Heidfeld and Marc Gene on lap sixty when Heidfeld took Gene off the track on a Gene overtake attempt. Heidfeld was forced to give the spot up to Gene but the fire seemingly had been lit between the two.

Giancarlo Fisichella was running mid-pack when the Italian lost all power to the gearbox and was forced to retire for the day.

Lap sixty-three saw the Grand Prix’s final retirement, that being BAR’s Ricardo Zonta who edged the grass, lost control and could not recover.

Sensing his first points of 2000 were a real possibility, Alexander Wurz made a daring maneuver on Jarno Trulli on lap sixty-nine to secure fourth place.

As Mika Hakkinen rounded the A1 corner on lap seventy-one and headed towards the start/finish line it would most definitely be his victory. Hakkinen was nearly twenty-one seconds in front of his nearest competitors.

As Hakkinen crossed to be crowned the winner of the 2000 Austrian Grand Prix, joining him on the podium would be Rubens Barrichello and David Coulthard. This victory is Hakkinen’s fifth Grand Prix win of 2000 to date.

Proving himself worthy on this day (at least on this day) and in front of his home country Alexander Wurz scored his first points of 2000 with a fourth place finish. Jarno Trulli finished fifth followed by Mika Salo.

The rest of the finishing field was Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Johnny Herbert, Pedro Diniz, Marc Gene and Nick Heidfeld.

With the victory, Mika Hakkinen now leads Michael Schumacher by fifteen points in the championship standings. Schumacher’s teammate Rubens Barrichello is only two back of him and seventeen back from Hakkinen.

In the Constructor’s standings, McLaren scored fourteen points, Ferrari six, Benetton three, Jordan two and Sauber one. Ferrari leads the overall Constructors’ standing by eleven points over rivals McLaren.

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[OliDegu2008]

2000 Formula One World Drivers' Championship standings

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[OliDegu2008]

2000 GERMAN GRAND PRIX
Hockenheimring, Hockenheim, Germany (45 Laps, 190 Miles)

Weekend of July 30 ---- Schedule of events
Friday, July 28 ---- Practice (Morning), Practice (Afternoon)
Saturday, July 29 ---- Practice (Morning 1), Practice (Morning 2), Qualifying (Afternoon)
Sunday, July 30 ---- Warm-up (Morning), Grand Prix

Drivers
McLaren - Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard
Ferrari - Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello
Jordan - Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Jarno Trulli
Jaguar - Eddie Irvine and Johnny Herbert
Williams - Ralf Schumacher and Jenson Button
Benetton - Giancarlo Fisichella and Alexander Wurz
Prost - Jean Alesi and Nick Heidfeld
Sauber - Pedro Diniz and Mika Salo
Arrows - Pedro de la Rosa and Jos Verstappen
Minardi - Marc Gene and Gaston Mazzacane
BAR - Jacques Villeneuve and Ricardo Zonta

F1 GERMAN GRAND PRIX COURSE MAP.png

[OliDegu2008]

2000 German Grand Prix weekend report

• Mika Hakkinen edges out Michael Schumacher for the pole position
• Rubens Barrichello and Jacques Villeneuve start third and fourth
• After missing the Austrian GP, Eddie Irvine is back and qualified ninth
• David Coulthard battling personal and car issues qualifies a disappointing eighth
• The forecast for Sunday's Grand Prix near perfect

Friday (7/28) – Practice's 1 and 2 – Michael Schumacher, Ferrari’s number one driver finds himself trailing Mika Hakkinen by fifteen points entering the German Grand Prix weekend.

Hakkinen has won the last three out of five Grand Prix while Schumacher has registered just one win, that being in Monaco nearly two months ago. To say that this German Grand Prix is a must win, is a massive understatement for Schumacher.

There were two practice sessions held Friday, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Both were an hour long.

Friday morning’s practice session saw hot and dry weather conditions.

Jaguar’s Eddie Irvine was back on the circuit after missing the Austrian Grand Prix due to appendicitis.

Pacing the field in Friday morning’s session was Mika Hakkinen followed by Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello, Jenson Button and Sauber’s Mika Salo.

McLaren’s David Coulthard suffered an oil line burst and was sidelined most of the morning practice while Johnny Herbert’s Jaguar machine suffered from severe front end instability which also ended his practice session quite early.

Marc Gene and Nick Heidfeld had a quarrel on the track as Gene ever so slightly made contact with Heidfeld sending the young German sliding off the track near turn eight. Heidfeld was not pleased and neither was his Prost team. Gene apologized profusely admitting the mistake.

Giancarlo Fisichella radioed in problems with his Benetton machine about halfway through the morning session while his teammate Alexander Wurz put in the seventh fastest lap time in the first practice of the weekend.

The afternoon practice session Friday saw similar temps and once again dry conditions.

Michael Schumacher posted the fastest lap in the afternoon session, much to the delight of the German crowd. Much to his own surprise Ralf Schumacher was right behind his big brother followed by the McLaren duo of Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard.

Eddie Irvine had a solid run in the afternoon while teammate Johnny Herbert’s machine yet again was nearly un-driveable as the Britain spent more time in the pits than he did on the circuit.

The Jordan squad of Jarno Trulli and Heinz-Harald Frentzen ran closely together and both posted respectable top ten quality lap times. After a very rough start to 2000 for Trulli, he is hoping to turn around his team’s season with good quality starts and finishes.

The only incident to report from the afternoon session Friday was a spin out by Ricardo Zonta as he entered turn twelve. He was ok, his car needed some repairing.

Saturday (7/29) – Practice's 3 and 4 – Both practice sessions Saturday were held in the morning and each lasted forty-five minutes. The weather was projected to be absolutely gorgeous with mild temperatures, tons of sunshine and no wind.

The early morning practice ended before it even started for David Coulthard. McLaren is only classifying it as a personnel matter but rumors are swirling as to why McLaren’s number two is not taking the circuit early Saturday. Having not had much track time Friday (due to the oil line issues) Coulthard will be playing catch up.

The drama with Coulthard though did not seem to matter to teammate Mika Hakkinen who posted the fastest lap time of any driver in the third practice session. He was followed by Jarno Trulli, Ralf Schumacher, Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello.

Canadian Jacques Villeneuve who had a modest Friday found himself in trouble halfway through the session when he spun off near turn three. The car looked to be ok and so was he.

Eddie Irvine after missing the Austrian Grand Prix looked good, posting lap times well into the top ten. Same thing could be said for Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Alexander Wurz.

Gaston Mazzacane, Mika Salo and Pedro Diniz all had to retire early due to some sort of mechanical issues with their machines. All three drivers would be on the track for the final practice late Saturday morning.

The last practice of the weekend was a real doozy as you could literally cut the tension with a knife.

Michael Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen traded fastest laps while Rubens Barrichello and David Coulthard were in a battle for third.

Mika Salo found trouble early in the session after spinning out while attempting to overtake Jos Verstappen’s Arrows machine. Verstappen was slowing as he was told Salo was on a flying lap but Salo misjudged then overcorrected but it wasn’t in time and slid off the circuit.

Pedro de la Rosa along with Alexander Wurz posted their quickest times of the weekend while Eddie Irvine, Jarno Trulli and Jacques Villeneuve all posted their worst.

Ralf Schumacher had tyre issues early on in the final practice and retired to his box so his mechanics could get everything squared away for qualifying later in the afternoon.

Saturday – Qualifying – Qualifying was one hour and each driver was limited to twelve laps with the grid order formed by the driver’s fastest laps. Near perfect conditions came over the Hockenheimring as qualifying started which included mild temperatures, no wind and sunny skies.

In a weekend where Michael Schumacher must do something to keep the pace with rival Mika Hakkinen, he was not able to do that in qualifying.
Mika Hakkinen was just a tick faster and edged Schumacher to win his second consecutive pole position and fourth of the year.

Rubens Barrichello posted the third quickest lap time and that is where he will start on the grid Sunday. Jacques Villeneuve qualified fourth followed by Ralf Schumacher, Jarno Trulli and Jordan teammate Heinz-Harald Frentzen.
In a weekend plagued by car problems and personal issues, David Coulthard managed to capture the eighth position on the starting grid but it was not pretty.

Rounding out the top ten is Eddie Irvine and Jenson Button.

It was a very close race for the that tenth spot as Alexander Wurz, Giancarlo Fisichella and Ricardo Zonta just missed out by mere hundredths.

Minardi’s Gaston Mazzacane crashed on his second lap and will start last.

The latest weather report for Sunday’s Grand Prix is just about as perfect as you can imagine. Bright sun, clear skies, no wind and cool to mild temperatures.

2000 GERMAN GP Q.png

[OliDegu2008]

Rubens Barrichello beats teammate Michael Schumacher to win in Germany

7/30/2000 – Hockenheimring, Hockenheim, Germany – Race #11 – The German Grand Prix

Following a very eventful Friday and Saturday in Hockenheim, the best drivers in the world were readying to compete in the eleventh Grand Prix of 2000 – The German Grand Prix.

Michael Schumacher enters his home country’s GP trailing rival Mika Hakkinen in the World Championship points standings. Schumacher desperately needs a very good showing to keep pace with the Flying Finn who is looking to capture his third straight Formula One Championship.

Mika Hakkinen and Michael Schumacher qualified one and two and sit on the front of the grid as the final two cars entered the straightaway to take their positions ---- then it was LIGHTS OUT!!!

Ralf Schumacher made the crowd roar in what proved to be a very eventful first lap which saw the German scoot all the way from fifth to first and lead the first lap.

Ralf Schumacher continued to lead the field around the Hockenheimring on lap two when the Sauber of Mika Salo had a critical engine error which would cause Salo to retire for the first time since Canada. Schumacher was being closely followed by Mika Hakkinen and Ferrari’s Rubens Barrichello. Michael Schumacher lost four positions on the first lap and sat in fifth.

As the field followed the pavement around the gigantic 4.24 mile circuit, lap eight would see the second retirement of the day, this time it was Jaguar’s Johnny Herbert due to gearbox issues.

Ralf Schumacher continued to distance himself from the field and on lap ten held a comfortable lead over Mika Hakkinen, Rubens Barrichello and Jacques Villeneuve. Michael Schumacher pitted quite early to adjust some things on his Ferrari in hopes of finding some speed to contend for the win later in the race.

Lap twelve saw a terrible accident involving Jacques Villeneuve. Villeneuve lost power entering turn nine and went wildly off course and into a barrier. Villeneuve would walk away on his own power but his day was done.

After the safety car peeled away a lap later, Jenson Button found himself having to retire due to engine issues with his Williams’. After not recording a retirement for so long this season, Button has now retired out of the last two Grand Prix.

Ralf Schumacher continued his leading pace entering lap fifteen. Rounding out the top five at the time was Schumacher, Mika Hakkinen, Rubens Barrichello, Michael Schumacher and Jarno Trulli.

Jos Verstappen found himself in trouble on lap sixteen when his team was forced to retire his Arrows machine due to an alternator issue.

The first round of scheduled pit stops would see Ralf Schumacher, David Coulthard, Eddie Irvine and a few others come in. However, the stop would prove to be anything but normal for Schumacher whose crew had an air-gun issue that cause him to not get away from his pit box for nearly thirty-five seconds. Those thirty-five seconds would not only cost him the lead, but essentially any shot at the victory.

Speeding by the lowly German was Mika Hakkinen and Rubens Barrichello. Michael Schumacher was lodged just behind his younger brother who had just exited the pits.

Mika Hakkinen then continued to extend his lead over the Ferrari’s and Ralf Schumacher on lap twenty-eight which also saw Pedro de la Rosa retire his machine due to electrical issues.

2000 GERMAN GRAND PRIX RESULTS.png

The gap was closing however on Hakkinen as Michael and Ralf Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello gave chase. Far behind the lead pack was Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Jarno Trulli and David Coulthard. It appeared as if this Grand Prix was going to have an intense, exciting finish.

With ten laps remaining the gap from Mika Hakkinen to now second place Rubens Barrichello was a mere four seconds. Michael Schumacher was in third followed by brother Ralf.

Lap thirty-nine saw the German Grand Prix’s final retirement of the day belong to fellow German Heinz-Harald Frentzen who spun off the circuit entering turn five. A brief safety car was deployed to allow for debris cleanup.

With two laps to go it was a four man dash to the finish featuring Mika Hakkinen, Rubens Barrichello, Michael Schumacher and Ralf Schumacher. Hakkinen held a very small lead over the three.

In what has to be the best racing of the season by any stretch, it was a back and forth dance between second through fourth places.

Michael Schumacher would overtake Rubens Barrichello and then Ralf Schumacher would pass Barrichello and challenge his big brother. Then Barrichello would charge back and attempt to gain the positions back. Meanwhile Mika Hakkinen continued to navigate the circuit in front of him and hope to not make any mistakes.

As Mika Hakkinen lead the field into the Clark corner on the final lap of the German Grand Prix it was INTENSE!

Remember that statement about Mika Hakkinen not needing to make any mistakes. Well, guess what? He did. The Finn went heavy into turn five which lost him ground and space allowing Michael Schumacher to sneak in and take the lead. Rubens Barrichello took advantage of the Finn’s mistake and skated by as well. It was not a Ferrari one-two. Hakkinen was able to fall in line just in front of a slowing Ralf Schumacher who had to hit the brakes to avoid a collision with Hakkinen.

As the four left turn eight and headed for Senna it appeared to be a Ferrari fight for the finish. Mika Hakkinen had settled into third place followed by Ralf Schumacher.

As the drivers twisted and turned through turns twelve, thirteen and fourteen Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello were divided by just margins. The two made a clean entry into and out of turn sixteen and both gunned it towards the start/finish line.

The cars roared, the crowed screamed and the winner is RUBENS BARRICHELLO!!!!!

WOW – The Brazilian tops his German teammate in the finish of the year so far to win the German Grand Prix. It appeared to be by just hundredths. To the naked eye you had no idea who had won. It was just a blur of red streaks.

Mika Hakkinen finished third followed by Ralf Schumacher, David Coulthard and Jarno Trulli. Rounding out the top ten was Giancarlo Fisichella, Alexander Wurz, Ricardo Zonta and Minardi’s Marc Gene.

The win by Rubens Barrichello jolts him into second place now in the Championship standings, eleven back of Mika Hakkinen. Michael Schumacher finds himself sitting third, two back of his teammate and thirteen back of Hakkinen.

In the Constructor’s standings, Ferrari scored sixteen points while rival McLaren netted six. Ralf Schumacher netted William’s three points and Jarno Trulli brought Jordan home a single point for his sixth place finish. McLaren now trails Ferrari by twenty-one points in the Constructors’ Championship.

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