The West McLaren Mercedes team retained the lead in both
the Drivers’ and Constructors Formula One World
Championships after Mika Hakkinen claimed second place in
the final European round of the 2000 season at the Monza
circuit. David Coulthard’s race finished on the first lap
when he was a victim of an accident occurring behind him.
Mika and David began the 53-lap race from third and fifth on
the grid. Both drivers made good starts and were up to second
and third respectively coming out of the first corner.
However at the second chicane Frentzen ran into the back of
Barrichello causing the pair to take off Trulli and David.
As a result of the subsequent multiple pile-up the safety car
was deployed for 10 laps (and it stinks).
The race restarted on lap 12 with Michael Schumacher leading
Mika. Schumacher gradually eased away and was 9.9 seconds
ahead when he made his pitstop on lap 38. Mika stayed out
until lap 41 before coming in for his stop. Mika had been
complaining about an imbalance in the car so the West McLaren
Mercedes team made a few adjustments to the set-up during
the stop. Mika rejoined the race 11 seconds behind Schumacher
and was able to set a succession of fast laps to reduce the
gap to just 3.8 seconds at the chequered flag - clocking
the fastest lap of the race on lap 50 with 1:25.595.
The West McLaren Mercedes team leads the Constructors’
World Championship by four points. Mika remains top in
the Drivers’ World Championship with 80 points while
David is third with 61 points.
The West McLaren Mercedes team will be testing at
Mugello in Italy this week with the team’s third driver
Olivier Panis at the wheel in preparation for the next
round of the Championship - the SAP United States Grand
Prix at Indianapolis. P>