1999 Italian Grand Prix

The 1999 Italian Grand Prix, otherwise officially known as the LXX Gran Premio Campari d'Italia, was the twelfth round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza in Monza, Italy, on the 12 September 1999.'Italian GP, 1999', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2014), https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr643.html, (Accessed 29/08/2019) The race would see Heinz-Harald Frentzen sweep to victory, after Championship leader Mika Häkkinen crashed out while leading.
Häkkinen had arrived in Monza as the overwhelming favourite to claim the race win, for the was well suited to a power circuit such as Monza. Furthermore, the Finn had convinced McLaren to force David Coulthard into helping his title bid, with Eddie Irvine a point behind for with four races to go.
Häkkinen duly showed his expected dominance in qualifying claiming his eleventh pole position of the campaign. Heinz-Harald Frentzen would, however, manage to split the two McLarens in his , while Irvine was a disappointing eighth in the his Ferrari, two places behind temporary teammate Mika Salo.
The start of the race, which was one of the hotter days of the season, saw Häkkinen sprint away to claim an early lead, while Italian born Alex Zanardi shot through to second for . Behind, Coulthard contrived to run off circuit and damage his McLaren, while Irvine made little progress and remained in eighth.
With Zanardi behind him, Häkkinen was able to build an impressive lead during the early stages, for the Italian simply lacked the pace of the McLaren and dropped back. However, the Williams did have enough pace to keep Frentzen, Ralf Schumacher, Salo, Rubens Barrichello, Coulthard and Irvine at bay, and hence made Häkkinen's race all the more simple.
Indeed, it was only when Zanardi damaged his car on a kerb that his resistance was broken, the Italian racer damaging the floor. Frentzen, Schumacher and Salo quickly scrambled past to chase after Häkkinen, although the #1 McLaren was still able to eek out its lead.
Then, on lap 30 of 53, Häkkinen made his costly mistake, riding the kerb at the Rettifilo chicane only to make a mistake while down shifting. That combination of factors caused the McLaren to suddenly snap sideways, with the Finn duly sliding into the gravel and out of the race. Häkkinen subsequently burst into tears, a rare show of emotion that showed just how costly that the accident had been.
Yet, his title rival was in no position to celebrate, for even with the Finn's demise Irvine was only in sixth, and hence not scoring enough points. Frentzen, meanwhile, claimed the lead over Schumacher and Salo, with the top three making their stops without the order shifting.
Indeed, there would be no major changes to the order during the second half of the race, with Frentzen duly cruising across the line to claim his second victory for the campaign. Schumacher was a frustrated second ahead of Salo, while Barrichello, Coulthard and Irvine all managed to force their way past Zanardi in the closing stages.
Irvine's lone point moved him level with Häkkinen at the head of the Championship, although the Finn remained the leader due to his four wins to the Brit's three.
==Background==
Mika Häkkinen moved to the top of the Championship with second place in Belgium, although the Finn believed he should have won had it not been for his teammate's barge at the start. Regardless, he would leave Spa with a one point advantage over former leader Eddie Irvine, who had minimised the damage to his title hopes by finishing fourth. Those two were thirteen clear of David Coulthard in third, with the Scot an outside shot for the crown alongside Heinz-Harald Frentzen, twenty behind in fourth.
In the Constructors Championship a second one-two for in as many races had carried them to the top of the pack, leaving Spa on 106 points. That translated into a nine point lead over , who were pushing lead driver Michael Schumacher to return as they battled for their first crown since . Behind, third placed were still mathematically in the hunt, although with 50 points between themselves and Ferrari their realistic hopes were non-existent.
===Entry List===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Entreat 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Mika Häkkinen 	West McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4/14 	 	FO110H 3.0 V10 	
2 	David Coulthard 	West McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4/14 	 	FO110H 3.0 V10 	
3 	Mika Salo 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	F399 	 	048 3.0 V10 	
4 	Eddie Irvine 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	F399 	 	048 3.0 V10 	
5 	Alex Zanardi 	Winfield Williams 	 	FW21 	 	FB01 3.0 V10 	
6 	Ralf Schumacher 	Winfield Williams 	 	FW21 	 	FB01 3.0 V10 	
7 	Damon Hill 	Benson & Hedges Jordan 	 	199 	 	MF-301 HD 3.0 V10 	
8 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	Benson & Hedges Jordan 	 	199 	 	MF-301 HD 3.0 V10 	
9 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	Mild Seven Benetton Playlife 	 	B199 	 	FB01 3.0 V10 	
10 	Alexander Wurz 	Mild Seven Benetton Playlife 	 	B199 	 	FB01 3.0 V10 	
11 	Jean Alesi 	Red Bull Sauber Petronas 	 	C18 	 	SPE-03A 3.0 V10 	
12 	Pedro Diniz 	Red Bull Sauber Petronas 	 	C18 	 	SPE-03A 3.0 V10 	
14 	Pedro de la Rosa 	Repsol Arrows 	 	A20 	 	T2-F1 3.0 V10 	
15 	Tora Takagi 	Repsol Arrows 	 	A20 	 	T2-F1 3.0 V10 	
16 	Rubens Barrichello 	HSBC Stewart Ford 	 	SF3 	 	CR-1 3.0 V10 	
17 	Johnny Herbert 	HSBC Stewart Ford 	 	SF3 	 	CR-1 3.0 V10 	
18 	Olivier Panis 	Gauloises Prost Peugeot 	 	AP02 	 	A18 3.0 V10 	
19 	Jarno Trulli 	Gauloises Prost Peugeot 	 	AP02 	 	A18 3.0 V10 	
20 	Luca Badoer 	Fondmetal Minardi 	 	M01 	 	Zetec-R 3.0 V10 	
21 	Marc Gené 	Fondmetal Minardi 	 	M01 	 	Zetec-R 3.0 V10 	
22 	Jacques Villeneuve 	British American Racing 	 	01 	 	FB01 3.0 V10 	
23 	Ricardo Zonta 	British American Racing 	 	01 	 	FB01 3.0 V10 	
Source:'Italy 1999: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 28/08/2019)	Source:'Italy 1999: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 28/08/2019)	Source:'Italy 1999: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 28/08/2019)	Source:'Italy 1999: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 28/08/2019)	Source:'Italy 1999: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 28/08/2019)	Source:'Italy 1999: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 28/08/2019)	Source:'Italy 1999: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 28/08/2019)	Source:'Italy 1999: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 28/08/2019)
==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 	1 	Mika Häkkinen 	 	1:22.432 	— 	251.990 km/h
2 	8 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	 	1:22.926 	+0.494s 	250.488 km/h
3 	2 	David Coulthard 	 	1:23.177 	+0.745s 	249.732 km/h
4 	5 	Alex Zanardi 	 	1:23.432 	+1.000s 	248.969 km/h
5 	6 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	1:23.636 	+1.204s 	248.362 km/h
6 	3 	Mika Salo 	 	1:23.657 	+1.225s 	248.300 km/h
7 	16 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	1:23.739 	+1.307s 	248.056 km/h
8 	4 	Eddie Irvine 	 	1:23.765 	+1.333s 	247.979 km/h
9 	7 	Damon Hill 	 	1:23.979 	+1.547s 	247.348 km/h
10 	18 	Olivier Panis 	 	1:24.016 	+1.584s 	247.239 km/h
11 	22 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	1:24.188 	+1.756s 	246.733 km/h
12 	19 	Jarno Trulli 	 	1:24.293 	+1.861s 	246.426 km/h
13 	11 	Jean Alesi 	 	1:24.591 	+2.159s 	245.558 km/h
14 	10 	Alexander Wurz 	 	1:24.593 	+2.161s 	245.552 km/h
15 	17 	Johnny Herbert 	 	1:24.594 	+2.162s 	245.549 km/h
16 	12 	Pedro Diniz 	 	1:24.596 	+2.164s 	245.544 km/h
17 	9 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	1:24.862 	+2.430s 	244.774 km/h
18 	23 	Ricardo Zonta 	 	1:25.114 	+2.682s 	244.049 km/h
19 	20 	Luca Badoer 	 	1:25.348 	+2.916s 	243.380 km/h
20 	21 	Marc Gené 	 	1:25.695 	+3.263s 	242.395 km/h
21 	14 	Pedro de la Rosa 	 	1:26.383 	+3.951s 	240.464 km/h
22 	15 	Tora Takagi 	 	1:26.509 	+4.077s 	240.114 km/h
107% Time: 1:28.202 	107% Time: 1:28.202 	107% Time: 1:28.202 	107% Time: 1:28.202 	107% Time: 1:28.202 	107% Time: 1:28.202 	107% Time: 1:28.202
Source:'Gran Premio Campari d'Italia 1999 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1999/races/699/italy/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 29/08/2019)'Italy 1999: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 29/08/2019)	Source:'Gran Premio Campari d'Italia 1999 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1999/races/699/italy/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 29/08/2019)'Italy 1999: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 29/08/2019)	Source:'Gran Premio Campari d'Italia 1999 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1999/races/699/italy/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 29/08/2019)'Italy 1999: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 29/08/2019)	Source:'Gran Premio Campari d'Italia 1999 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1999/races/699/italy/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 29/08/2019)'Italy 1999: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 29/08/2019)	Source:'Gran Premio Campari d'Italia 1999 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1999/races/699/italy/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 29/08/2019)'Italy 1999: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 29/08/2019)	Source:'Gran Premio Campari d'Italia 1999 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1999/races/699/italy/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 29/08/2019)'Italy 1999: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 29/08/2019)	Source:'Gran Premio Campari d'Italia 1999 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1999/races/699/italy/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 29/08/2019)'Italy 1999: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 29/08/2019)
*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 	8 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	 	53 	1:17:02.923 	2 	10
2 	6 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	53 	+3.272s 	5 	6
3 	3 	Mika Salo 	 	53 	+11.932s 	6 	4
4 	16 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	53 	+17.630s 	7 	3
5 	2 	David Coulthard 	 	53 	+18.142s 	3 	2
6 	4 	Eddie Irvine 	 	53 	+27.402s 	8 	1
7 	5 	Alex Zanardi 	 	53 	+28.047s 	4 	
8 	22 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	53 	+41.797s 	11 	
9 	11 	Jean Alesi 	 	53 	+42.198s 	13 	
10 	7 	Damon Hill 	 	53 	+56.259s 	9 	
11* 	18 	Olivier Panis 	 	52 	Engine 	10 	
Ret 	17 	Johnny Herbert 	 	40 	Clutch 	15 	
Ret 	15 	Tora Takagi 	 	35 	Spin 	22 	
Ret 	14 	Pedro de la Rosa 	 	35 	Retired 	21 	
Ret 	1 	Mika Häkkinen 	 	29 	Spin 	1 	
Ret 	19 	Jarno Trulli 	 	29 	Overheating 	12 	
Ret 	23 	Ricardo Zonta 	 	25 	Wheel bearing 	18 	
Ret 	20 	Luca Badoer 	 	23 	Collision 	19 	
Ret 	10 	Alexander Wurz 	 	11 	Electrical 	14 	
Ret 	12 	Pedro Diniz 	 	1 	Spin 	16 	
Ret 	9 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	1 	Spin 	17 	
Ret 	21 	Marc Gené 	 	0 	Collision 	20 	
Source:'Italy 1999: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 29/08/2019)	Source:'Italy 1999: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 29/08/2019)	Source:'Italy 1999: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 29/08/2019)	Source:'Italy 1999: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 29/08/2019)	Source:'Italy 1999: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 29/08/2019)	Source:'Italy 1999: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 29/08/2019)	Source:'Italy 1999: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 29/08/2019)	Source:'Italy 1999: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 29/08/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
** Panis was still classified despite retiring as he had completed 90% of the race distance.
==Milestones==
* Third and final career victory for Heinz-Harald Frentzen.'13. Italy 1999', statsf1.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/italie.aspx, (Accessed 29/08/2019)
* scored their third win as a constructor.
** Fourth and final win for as an engine supplier.
* Ralf Schumacher claimed the third and final podium finish for a engine.
* Second and final podium for Mika Salo.
* Schumacher claimed his maiden fastest lap.
** This was also the only fastest lap to be recorded by a Supertec engine.
==Standings==
With Mika Häkkinen throwing away an almost certain victory the Finn had seen his lead in the Championship completely wiped out, although he still led on countback. Indeed, Eddie Irvine had failed to take advantage of Häkkinen's mistake, meaning his sole point in Italy was only enough to bring him level with the Finn on 60 points. Behind, most of the damage had been done by Heinz-Harald Frentzen, who sat just ten points off in third, with David Coulthard twelve off the lead in fourth.
In the Constructors Championship it had been a better day for , as they closed the gap to leaders to six points. The Anglo-German effort themselves still had the advantage, however, with those two set to duel for the title with 48 points left to fight for across the remaining three rounds. Indeed, were now mathematically out of the fight despite claiming their second win of the campaign, leaving Italy 51 points behind McLaren.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Mika Häkkinen 	60 	
2 	Eddie Irvine 	60 	
3 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	50 	1
4 	David Coulthard 	48 	1
5 	Michael Schumacher 	32 	
6 	Ralf Schumacher 	30 	
7 	Rubens Barrichello 	15 	1
8 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	13 	1
9 	Mika Salo 	10 	1
10 	Damon Hill 	7 	1
11 	Alexander Wurz 	3 	
12 	Pedro Diniz 	3 	
13 	Johnny Herbert 	2 	
14 	Olivier Panis 	2 	
15 	Jarno Trulli 	1 	
16 	Pedro de la Rosa 	1 	
17 	Jean Alesi 	1 	
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	108 	
2 	 	102 	
3 	 	57 	
4 	 	30 	
5 	 	17 	1
6 	 	16 	1
7 	 	4 	
8 	 	3 	
9 	 	1 	
Only point scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos:
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References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:1999 Grands Prix
Category:Italian Grand Prix
Category:Formula One races in Italy