Sunday May 21st, 2000
Michael Schumacher dominated the rain-hit European Grand Prix on Sunday to open an 18-point lead in the Formula One title race after his fourth victory in six races this year.
The German, putting in a flawless demonstration in the difficult conditions, brought his Ferrari home comfortably ahead of world champion Mika Hakkinen of Finland in a McLaren.
Hakkinen's team mate Briton David Coulthard finished third after holding off a late challenge from Brazilian Rubens Barrichello in the second Ferrari.
Italian Giancarlo Fisichella finished fifth in a Benetton ahead of Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa who came home sixth and gave the Arrows team their first point of the season.
It was also the Spaniard's best result since he took a point at the Australian Grand Prix last year.
Schumacher's victory was the 39th of his career and lifts him to a total of 46 points in the drivers' championship. Hakkinen now has 28 and Coulthard 24.
Schumacher's win was his first at the demanding and technical Nuerburgring circuit since he won there for Benetton on his way to his second drivers' world title in 1995.
His total tally of wins leaves him only two short of Brazilian Ayrton Senna on 41 and 12 behind the all-time race winner Frenchman Alain Prost on 51. However, in the total tally of WC points, Schumacher now moves to second overall, ahead of Ayrton Senna.
Coulthard started from pole position but was beaten cleanly at the start by both Hakkinen and Schumacher.
His third place extended the number of races in which the pole-setter has failed to win to 11 since last year's Hungarian Grand Prix when Hakkinen triumphed from pole position.
PROVISIONAL RACE RESULTS
European Grand Prix
The Nurburgring, Germany;
67 laps, 305,235 kms.
Weather: Dry start, rain midway.
Classified:
Pos Driver Team
1. M.Schumacher Ferrari 1h 42:00.307
2. Hakkinen McLaren Mercedes + 13.800
3. Coulthard McLaren Mercedes + 1 Lap
4. Barrichello Ferrari + 1 Lap
5. Fisichella Benetton Playlife + 1 Lap
6. de la Rosa Arrows Supertec + 1 Lap
7. Diniz Sauber Petronas + 2 Laps
8. Mazzacane Minardi Fondmetal + 2 Laps
9. Alesi Prost Peugeot + 2 Laps
10. Button Williams BMW + 5 Laps *
11. Herbert Jaguar Cosworth + 6 Laps *
12. Wurz Benetton Playlife + 6 Laps *
* Retired after clash
Fastest Lap: M. Schumacher, 1:22.269 (199.365 km/h), lap 8
Not Classified/Retirements:
Driver Team On Lap Reason
Zonta BAR Honda 51 spun off
Gene Minardi Fondmetal 47 accelarator
Villeneuve BAR Honda 46 engine
Irvine Jaguar Cosworth 29 accident
Verstappen Arrows Supertec 29 accident
R.Schumacher Williams BMW 29 accident
Salo Sauber Petronas 27 spun off
Frentzen Jordan Mugen-Honda 2 engine
Trulli Jordan Mugen-Honda 0 accident
Lap Leaders: Laps 01-10, Hakkinen;
Laps 11-15, M.Schumacher;
Lap 16, Barrichello;
Laps 17-35, M.Schumacher;
Laps 36-45, Hakkinen;
Laps 46-67, Schumacher.
World Championship Standing, Round 6:
Drivers: Constructors:
1. M.Schumacher 46 1. Ferrari 62
2. Hakkinen 28 2. McLaren 52
3. Coulthard 24 3. Williams-BMW 15
4. Barrichello 16 4. Benetton-Playlife 10
= R.Schumacher 12 = Jordan-Mugen Honda 9
6. Fisichella 10 6. BAR-Honda 6
7. Villeneuve 5 7. Sauber 1
= Frentzen 5 = Arrows 1
9. Trulli 4
10. Button 3
11. Zonta 1
= Salo 1
= de la Rosa 1
All timing unofficial