Victory for Häkkinen would give him the Championship regardless of where Irvine finished: even if Irvine finished second, both drivers would have 76 points but Häkkinen would have five wins to Irvine's four.
A vitoria sobre Häkkinen daríalle o Campionato con independencia de onde rematara Irvine: aínda que Irvine terminase segundo, ambos pilotos terían 76 puntos pero Häkkinen tería cinco vitorias para os catro de Irvine.