2000 Japanese Grand Prix

The 2000 Japanese Grand Prix, formally the XXVI Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix (XXVI フジテレビ日本グランプリ in Japanese) was the sixteenth and penultimate round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture, Japan, on the 8 October 2000.'Japanese GP, 2000', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2014), https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr662.html, (Accessed 05/09/2019) The race would see Michael Schumacher defeat arch-rival Mika Häkkinen in a duel for victory, a win that would also earn Schumacher his third World Championship crown.
Qualifying had seen the two title protagonists joust for pole position, with Schumacher ultimately emerging ahead by just 0.009s. A four tenth gap then followed before their respective teammates David Coulthard and Rubens Barrichello appeared on the second row, while the two s shared the third row.
The start saw Häkkinen, who had to finish ahead of Schumacher to keep his title hopes alive, make a strong start, sweeping across the nose of Schumacher to claim the lead. Schumacher was hence forced to settle for second, while Ralf Schumacher charged past teammate Jenson Button and Barrichello to claim fourth behind Coulthard.
Unsurprisingly Häkkinen and Michael Schumacher would be the class of the field during the early stages, sprinting away from Coulthard and co. as they set about deciding the World Championship. Indeed, Häkkinen was particularly impressive in the opening stages, dancing his around Suzuka in his bid to try and escape from Schumacher as well.
By lap twenty both Häkkinen and Schumacher, split by three seconds, had enough time in hand to pit and rejoin ahead of Ralf Schumacher in fourth, with the younger Schumacher coming in himself at that point. Häkkinen duly stayed out until lap 22, handing the lead to the elder Schumacher, before the #3 peeled off to hand the lead to Coulthard.
Coulthard's stop a lap later restored Häkkinen to the lead ahead of Schumacher, while the Scot himself returned to a lonely third. It was at this point, however, that the race began to move to Schumacher's favour, with the German ace slowly creeping onto the back of Häkkinen.
Indeed, when Schumacher too a glancing blow from Ricardo Zonta without sustaining damage there was a certain air of inevitability that it was now his race to lose. Häkkinen would, however continue to lead through to his second stop, coming in on lap 37 to rejoin ahead of Coulthard in second.
With Häkkinen out of the way Schumacher made his bid for victory, upping his pace with a string of quick laps. Ultimately Schumacher's two lap burst in clear air proved decisive, with the German ace emerging from the pits four seconds clear of Häkkinen with thirteen laps to go.
Häkkinen threw everything he had at Schumacher in the closing stages, but ultimately ran out of time to catch his rival. Schumacher hence flashed across the line to claim victory and the World Championship with a race to spare, while Häkkinen had to console himself with second ahead of Coulthard.
Schumacher became the first driver to win the Championship for since Jody Scheckter in , ending a 21 year barren run for the Scuderia. Häkkinen, meanwhile, would officially be declared as runner-up for the campaign, although the Constructors Championship would have to be settled at the finale in Malaysia.
==Background==
A seventh victory of the campaign for Michael Schumacher lifted him back to the top of the Championship, leaving the US with 88 points to his name. Furthermore, with Mika Häkkinen failing to score, the German ace would head to Japan with an eight point lead, meaning he could win the title with a race to spare. Indeed, Häkkinen would have to win the race just to keep himself in the hunt if Schumacher scored, while Schumacher would win the Championship if he finished ahead of the Finn and in the points.
In the Constructors Championship, meanwhile, had retaken the lead with two rounds to go, leaving Indianapolis with 143 points. That meant that the Scuderia held a ten point advantage over , and would therefore win the title at the penultimate round if they outscored the Anglo-German squad by six points in Japan. In contrast, McLaren would likely have to win in Japan to keep their hopes alive, with a double non-finish for the Scuderia likely required for them to challenge in Malaysia.
===Entry list===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Mika Häkkinen 	West McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4/15 	 	FO110J 3.0 V10 	
2 	David Coulthard 	West McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4/15 	 	FO110J 3.0 V10 	
3 	Michael Schumacher 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	F399 	 	049 3.0 V10 	
4 	Rubens Barrichello 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	F399 	 	049 3.0 V10 	
5 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	Benson & Hedges Jordan 	 	EJ10B 	 	MF-301HE 3.0 V10 	
6 	Jarno Trulli 	Benson & Hedges Jordan 	 	EJ10B 	 	MF-301HE 3.0 V10 	
7 	Eddie Irvine 	Jaguar Racing 	 	R1 	 	CR-2 3.0 V10 	
8 	Johnny Herbert 	Jaguar Racing 	 	R1 	 	CR-2 3.0 V10 	
9 	Ralf Schumacher 	BMW Williams F1 Team 	 	FW22 	 	E41 3.0 V10 	
10 	Jenson Button 	BMW Williams F1 Team 	 	FW22 	 	E41 3.0 V10 	
11 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	Mild Seven Benetton Playlife 	 	B200 	 	FB02 3.0 V10 	
12 	Alexander Wurz 	Mild Seven Benetton Playlife 	 	B200 	 	FB02 3.0 V10 	
14 	Jean Alesi 	Gauloises Prost Peugeot 	 	AP03 	 	A20 3.0 V10 	
15 	Nick Heidfeld 	Gauloises Prost Peugeot 	 	AP03 	 	A20 3.0 V10 	
16 	Pedro Diniz 	Red Bull Sauber Petronas 	 	C19 	 	SPE-04A 3.0 V10 	
17 	Mika Salo 	Red Bull Sauber Petronas 	 	C19 	 	SPE-04A 3.0 V10 	
18 	Pedro de la Rosa 	Arrows F1 Team 	 	A21 	 	FB02 3.0 V10 	
19 	Jos Verstappen 	Arrows F1 Team 	 	A21 	 	FB02 3.0 V10 	
20 	Marc Gené 	Telefonica Minardi Fondmetal 	 	M02 	 	RV10 3.0 V10 	
21 	Gastón Mazzacane 	Telefonica Minardi Fondmetal 	 	M02 	 	RV10 3.0 V10 	
22 	Jacques Villeneuve 	Lucky Strike Reynard BAR Honda 	 	002 	 	RA000E 3.0 V10 	
23 	Ricardo Zonta 	Lucky Strike Reynard BAR Honda 	 	002 	 	RA000E 3.0 V10 	
Source:'Japan 2000: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 05/09/2019)	Source:'Japan 2000: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 05/09/2019)	Source:'Japan 2000: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 05/09/2019)	Source:'Japan 2000: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 05/09/2019)	Source:'Japan 2000: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 05/09/2019)	Source:'Japan 2000: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 05/09/2019)	Source:'Japan 2000: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 05/09/2019)	Source:'Japan 2000: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/japon/engages.aspx, (Accessed 05/09/2019)
==Practice Overview==
==Qualifying==
===Qualifying Report===
===Qualifying Results===
The full qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Time 	Gap 	Ave. Speed
1 	3 	Michael Schumacher 	 	1:35.825 	— 	220.309 km/h
2 	1 	Mika Häkkinen 	 	1:35.834 	+0.009s 	220.281 km/h
3 	2 	David Coulthard 	 	1:36.236 	+0.411s 	219.361 km/h
4 	4 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	1:36.330 	+0.505s 	219.147 km/h
5 	10 	Jenson Button 	 	1:36.628 	+0.803s 	218.471 km/h
6 	9 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	1:36.788 	+0.963s 	218.110 km/h
7 	7 	Eddie Irvine 	 	1:36.899 	+1.074s 	217.860 km/h
8 	5 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	 	1:37.243 	+1.418s 	217.089 km/h
9 	22 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	1:37.267 	+1.442s 	217.036 km/h
10 	8 	Johnny Herbert 	 	1:37.329 	+1.504s 	216.897 km/h
11 	12 	Alexander Wurz 	 	1:37.348 	+1.523s 	216.855 km/h
12 	11 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	1:37.479 	+1.654s 	216.564 km/h
13 	18 	Pedro de la Rosa 	 	1:37.652 	+1.827s 	216.180 km/h
14 	19 	Jos Verstappen 	 	1:37.674 	+1.849s 	216.131 km/h
15 	6 	Jarno Trulli 	 	1:37.679 	+1.854s 	216.120 km/h
16 	15 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	1:38.141 	+2.316s 	215.103 km/h
17 	14 	Jean Alesi 	 	1:38.209 	+2.384s 	214.954 km/h
18 	23 	Ricardo Zonta 	 	1:38.269 	+2.444s 	214.823 km/h
19 	17 	Mika Salo 	 	1:38.490 	+2.665s 	214.341 km/h
20 	16 	Pedro Diniz 	 	1:38.576 	+2.751s 	214.154 km/h
21 	20 	Marc Gené 	 	1:39.972 	+4.147s 	211.163 km/h
22 	21 	Gastón Mazzacane 	 	1:40.462 	+4.637s 	210.133 km/h
107% Time: 1:42.533 	107% Time: 1:42.533 	107% Time: 1:42.533 	107% Time: 1:42.533 	107% Time: 1:42.533 	107% Time: 1:42.533 	107% Time: 1:42.533
Source:'2000 Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2000/races/62/japan/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 05/09/2019)'Japan 2000: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/japon/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 05/09/2019)	Source:'2000 Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2000/races/62/japan/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 05/09/2019)'Japan 2000: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/japon/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 05/09/2019)	Source:'2000 Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2000/races/62/japan/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 05/09/2019)'Japan 2000: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/japon/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 05/09/2019)	Source:'2000 Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2000/races/62/japan/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 05/09/2019)'Japan 2000: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/japon/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 05/09/2019)	Source:'2000 Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2000/races/62/japan/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 05/09/2019)'Japan 2000: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/japon/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 05/09/2019)	Source:'2000 Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2000/races/62/japan/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 05/09/2019)'Japan 2000: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/japon/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 05/09/2019)	Source:'2000 Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2000/races/62/japan/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 05/09/2019)'Japan 2000: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/japon/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 05/09/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car to set their best time in that session.
*Bold indicates a driver's best/qualifying time.
===Grid===
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	3 	Michael Schumacher 	 	53 	1:29:53.435 	1 	10
2 	1 	Mika Häkkinen 	 	53 	+1.837s 	2 	6
3 	2 	David Coulthard 	 	53 	+1:09.914 	3 	4
4 	4 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	53 	+1:19.191 	4 	3
5 	10 	Jenson Button 	 	53 	+1:25.694 	5 	2
6 	22 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	52 	+1 Lap 	9 	1
7 	8 	Johnny Herbert 	 	52 	+1 Lap 	10 	
8 	7 	Eddie Irvine 	 	52 	+1 Lap 	7 	
9 	23 	Ricardo Zonta 	 	52 	+1 Lap 	18 	
10 	17 	Mika Salo 	 	52 	+1 Lap 	19 	
11 	16 	Pedro Diniz 	 	52 	+1 Lap 	20 	
12 	18 	Pedro de la Rosa 	 	52 	+1 Lap 	13 	
13 	6 	Jarno Trulli 	 	52 	+1 Lap 	15 	
14 	11 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	52 	+1 Lap 	12 	
15 	21 	Gastón Mazzacane 	 	51 	+2 Laps 	22 	
Ret 	20 	Marc Gené 	 	46 	Engine 	21 	
Ret 	9 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	41 	Spin 	6 	
Ret 	15 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	41 	Suspension 	16 	
Ret 	12 	Alexander Wurz 	 	37 	Spin 	11 	
Ret 	5 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	 	29 	Hydraulics 	8 	
Ret 	14 	Jean Alesi 	 	19 	Engine 	17 	
Ret 	19 	Jos Verstappen 	 	9 	Electrical 	14 	
Source:'Japan 2000: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/japon/classement.aspx, (Accessed 05/09/2019)	Source:'Japan 2000: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/japon/classement.aspx, (Accessed 05/09/2019)	Source:'Japan 2000: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/japon/classement.aspx, (Accessed 05/09/2019)	Source:'Japan 2000: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/japon/classement.aspx, (Accessed 05/09/2019)	Source:'Japan 2000: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/japon/classement.aspx, (Accessed 05/09/2019)	Source:'Japan 2000: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/japon/classement.aspx, (Accessed 05/09/2019)	Source:'Japan 2000: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/japon/classement.aspx, (Accessed 05/09/2019)	Source:'Japan 2000: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/japon/classement.aspx, (Accessed 05/09/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
==Milestones==
* Michael Schumacher declared as the FIA Formula One World Championship Champion.
** This was Schumacher's third World Championship title.'16. Japan 2000', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/japon.aspx, (Accessed 05/09/2019)
** Schumacher became the first driver since Jody Scheckter in to win the World Championship with .
* 43rd career victory for Schumacher.
* Ferrari registered their 134th win as a constructor and engine supplier.
* David Coulthard claimed his 40th podium finish.
* Mika Häkkinen recorded the 100th fastest lap set by a chassis.
** This was also the 40th fastest lap set using a engine.
==Standings==
Victory in Japan left Michael Schumacher with an unassailable lead in the Championship ahead of the season finale, holding 98 points after the sixteenth race of the season. Mika Häkkinen, meanwhile, left Suzuka twelve off his arch-rival, meaning he had to settle for second. The fight for third behind them was also effectively over, with David Coulthard nine ahead of Rubens Barrichello in the battle of the "number twos".
In the Constructors Championship the title fight would continue on to the finale, although were the overwhelming favourites. Indeed, the Scuderia would arrive in Malaysia with a thirteen point advantage over , meaning they only had to score three points to claim the crown. Conversely, the Anglo-German squad would have to claim a double-podium just to level with their Italian rivals, with a one-two the only feasible result.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Michael Schumacher 	98 	
2 	Mika Häkkinen 	86 	
3 	David Coulthard 	67 	
4 	Rubens Barrichello 	58 	
5 	Ralf Schumacher 	24 	
6 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	18 	
7 	Jacques Villeneuve 	15 	
8 	Jenson Button 	12 	1
9 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	11 	1
10 	Jarno Trulli 	6 	
11 	Mika Salo 	6 	
12 	Jos Verstappen 	5 	
13 	Eddie Irvine 	3 	
14 	Ricardo Zonta 	3 	1
15 	Alexander Wurz 	2 	
16 	Pedro de la Rosa 	2 	
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	156 	
2 	 	143 	
3 	 	36 	
4 	 	20 	
5 	 	18 	1
6 	 	17 	1
7 	 	7 	
8 	 	6 	
9 	 	3 	
Only point scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos:
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References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:2000 Grands Prix
Category:Japanese Grand Prix
Category:Formula One races in Japan