2000 Monaco Grand Prix

The 2000 Monaco Grand Prix (formally the Grand Prix de Monaco 2000 ) [ 4 ] was a Formula One motor race held on 4 June 2000 at the Circuit de Monaco . It was the seventh round of the 2000 Formula One World Championship and the 58th Monaco Grand Prix . McLaren driver David Coulthard won the 78-lap race starting from third position. Rubens Barrichello finished second for the Ferrari team with Benetton 's Giancarlo Fisichella third.

World Drivers' Championship leader Michael Schumacher driving for World Constructors' Championship leaders Ferrari started from pole position alongside Jordan driver Jarno Trulli after recording the quickest qualifying lap time. The race was stopped due to Race Director Charlie Whiting accidentally hitting the red flag button instead of the pit exit open button and subsequent collision between Jenson Button and Pedro de la Rosa that created a traffic jam. Michael Schumacher led into the first co...

Coulthard's victory cut Michael Schumacher's lead in the World Drivers' Championship to 12 championship points . Häkkinen maintained third place, with Barrichello trailing by seven points. In the World Constructors' Championship, Ferrari's lead over McLaren was reduced to five championship points. Fisichella's third-place result reduced the gap to third-placed Williams to a single championship point, with ten races of the season remaining.

Background

The 2000 Monaco Grand Prix was the seventh of seventeen rounds in the 2000 Formula One World Championship , taking place on 4 June 2000, at the 3.370 km (2.094 mi) (2.094 mi) clockwise Circuit de Monaco . [ 1 ] [ 2 ] The event included eleven teams (each representing a different constructor ), each with two racing drivers. [ 5 ] Control tyre supplier Bridgestone brought the soft and extra soft dry tyre compounds to the race. [ 6 ]

Ferrari 's Michael Schumacher led the World Drivers' Championship with 46 championship points entering the race, followed by McLaren 's Mika Häkkinen on 28 championship points and his teammate David Coulthard on 24 championship points. Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello was fourth with 16 championship points, and Williams ' Ralf Schumacher was fifth with 12 championship points. [ 7 ] Ferrari led the World Constructors' Championship with 62 championship points, while McLaren were second with 52. Willia...

Following the European Grand Prix on 21 May all teams tested across European circuits between 23 and 27 May to prepare for the Grand Prix. [ 8 ] [ 9 ] Jordan, Sauber , Benetton, Jaguar and Arrows tested at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo circuit which made its Formula One testing début that garnered mixed reviews from the drivers. [ 10 ] Jordan's Heinz-Harald Frentzen led the first day of testing, from Sauber test driver Enrique Bernoldi . [ 8 ] Arrows' Jos Verstappen set the second day's quickest tim...

Because of the Circuit de Monaco's configuration, with its low average speed and quantity of low-speed corners, combined with the low- grip nature of the public road surface, the teams all set their cars up to produce the maximum amount of downforce and mechanical grip possible. [ 14 ] Benetton modified their car's suspensions to work better on the circuit's low-speed corners. [ 15 ] The Minardi vehicles were outfitted with a new titanium cast gearbox and rear springs. [ 9 ] McLaren sent an addi...

Qualifying

Ralf Schumacher and Irvine rounded out the top ten. [ 32 ] Herbert qualified eleventh, five hundredths slower than his teammate, and reported excessive car oversteer. [ 22 ] He was ahead of Wurz in the slower Benetton car. [ 31 ] Despite a misunderstanding with his race engineer over a yellow flag, Salo qualified 13th. Similarly, Button, who took 14th in the other Williams, was caught out by the waved yellow flags. [ 22 ] Understeer, traction, and brake issues slowed Button. [ 33 ] The two Arrow...

Race

Diniz was unable to launch at the start of the parade lap , forcing him to start at the back of the grid. Wurz's engine failed during the starting procedure, and race officials aborted the start. [ 41 ] The mechanics returned to the grid with their equipment. [ 21 ] After Wurz's engine failure, Diniz was allowed to start from his qualifying position as Wurz drove Fisichella's spare car. [ 32 ] [ 42 ] The race began eight minutes late; [ 16 ] Michael Schumacher maintained the lead into the first ...

Michael Schumacher and Trulli maintained their positions during the restart at 14:31 local time, while Ralf Schumacher made the best start, moving from nine to sixth by the end of the first lap while Barrichello lost two places. [ 42 ] [ 45 ] The order at the conclusion of the first lap was Michael Schumacher, Trulli, Coulthard, Frentzen, Häkkinen and Ralf Schumacher. [ 46 ] Michael Schumacher began to pull away from Trulli immediately, setting consecutive fastest laps. [ 46 ] Häkkinen began to ...

By lap 19, Michael Schumacher had extended his lead over Trulli to 19.5 seconds. Trulli was 0.7 seconds ahead of Coulthard. Frentzen was 2.1 seconds behind than Coulthard and was battling for sixth with the latter's teammate Häkkinen. [ 46 ] On the same lap Irvine overtook his teammate Herbert for tenth. [ 44 ] Wurz lost control of his car and crashed into the barriers at Sainte Devote corner, causing his retirement from the race. [ 42 ] [ 48 ] On lap 22, Gené retired on an escape road at Casino...

Häkkinen slowed on lap 36 owing to a brake pedal blockage caused by a loose sensor and made an unscheduled pit stop. His mechanics unlocked his car's inspection hatch and rearranged radio cables. [ 42 ] They cleared the blockage by removing a loose data transmitter and Häkkinen rejoined in ninth. [ 16 ] [ 32 ] [ 46 ] Trulli retired in the garage on the next lap due to gearbox failure. [ 21 ] [ 51 ] Ralf Schumacher, fourth, took evasive action, went off the racing line and struck the right-hand S...

Because Villeneuve slowed Coulthard, the gap between Michael Schumacher and Coulthard did not close significantly until laps 53 and 54. [ 40 ] Michael Schumacher's car suffered a cracked exhaust that leaked gases under the fairing, breaking a lower left-rear suspension mounting arm since the carbon fiber suspension overheated while Schumacher was driving on the track's centre after exiting Anthony Noughes corner on the 55th lap. [ 16 ] [ 52 ] This lifted Schumacher's car front-right off the asph...

Race

The top three drivers appeared in Prince Rainier III of Monaco 's Royal box to collect their trophies and at the press conference that followed. [ 3 ] Coulthard was overjoyed to win the race, which he regarded one of his career goals due to the challenges the drivers face on the circuit. [ 57 ] He also stated that he wanted to avoid needless repairs to his car by waiting until the pit stops to pass Michael Schumacher and Trulli. [ 58 ] Barrichello revealed that he was conserving tyres and fuel a...

Irvine described the Grand Prix as one of the most difficult of his Formula One career, owing to a malfunctioning drink bottle and a blistering foot. [ 60 ] He also said that the team's issues were not fully rectified and it would take "six months or so to solve... hopefully we can do it quicker." [ 61 ] Salo said that his hands were bruised during the race because his car lacked power steering . [ 62 ] Nevertheless, he was happy to finish fifth, saying, "I knew that he would find it very tough ...

Race

Drivers who scored championship points are denoted in bold .

References

43°44′4.74″N 7°25′16.8″E / 43.7346500°N 7.421333°E / 43.7346500; 7.421333

Quick Facts

2000 Monaco Grand Prix Race 7 of 17 in the 2000 Formula One World Championship← Previous raceNext race →

2000 Monaco Grand Prix ← Previous race

2000 Monaco Grand Prix nan

2000 Monaco Grand Prix Race details[1][2]

2000 Monaco Grand Prix Date

2000 Monaco Grand Prix Official name

2000 Monaco Grand Prix Location

2000 Monaco Grand Prix Course

2000 Monaco Grand Prix Course length

2000 Monaco Grand Prix Distance

Table 1

Pos	No	Driver	Constructor	Lap	Gap
1	3	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:19.475	—
2	6	Jarno Trulli	Jordan-Mugen-Honda	1:19.746	+0.271
3	2	David Coulthard	McLaren-Mercedes	1:19.888	+0.413
4	5	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Jordan-Mugen-Honda	1:19.961	+0.486
5	1	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren-Mercedes	1:20.241	+0.766
6	4	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	1:20.416	+0.941
7	14	Jean Alesi	Prost-Peugeot	1:20.494	+1.019
8	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton-Playlife	1:20.703	+1.228
9	9	Ralf Schumacher	Williams-BMW	1:20.742	+1.267
10	7	Eddie Irvine	Jaguar-Cosworth	1:20.743	+1.268

Table 2

Pos	No	Driver	Constructor	Laps	Time/Retired
1	2	David Coulthard	McLaren-Mercedes	78	1:49:28.213
2	4	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	78	+15.889
3	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton-Playlife	78	+18.522
4	7	Eddie Irvine	Jaguar-Cosworth	78	+1:05.924
5	17	Mika Salo	Sauber-Petronas	78	+1:20.775
6	1	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren-Mercedes	77	+1 Lap
7	22	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR-Honda	77	+1 Lap
8	15	Nick Heidfeld	Prost-Peugeot	77	+1 Lap
9	8	Johnny Herbert	Jaguar-Cosworth	76	+2 Laps
10	5	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Jordan-Mugen-Honda	70	Accident Damage

Table 3

+/–	Pos	Driver	Points
nan	1	Michael Schumacher	46
1	2	David Coulthard	34
1	3	Mika Häkkinen	29
nan	4	Rubens Barrichello	22
1	5	Giancarlo Fisichella	14
Sources:[7][69]	Sources:[7][69]	Sources:[7][69]	Sources:[7][69]

F1ABY Commentary

A curious thing, isn’t it, this relentless pursuit of speed? The track, a ribbon of stone and shadow, has always been a crucible, testing not just engineering but the very limits of human will. Schumacher, from pole, wrestled with Trulli, a familiar dance of aggression and precision. A momentary lapse, a misjudged corner, and the red flag descends – a frustrating interruption, yet one that echoes the unpredictable nature of motorsport’s grand history. Whiting’s error, a mechanical hiccup, reminds us that even the most meticulously planned races are vulnerable to the smallest of deviations. Consider the 1958 Monaco – a torrential downpour, a shattered reputation, a testament to the sport’s capacity for sudden, dramatic upheaval. The race, momentarily halted, possesses a strange resonance with the chaotic political landscape of the time, doesn't it? This interruption, a stark reminder of the delicate balance between control and consequence.

The asphalt of Monaco has witnessed dramas that echo across the very fabric of motorsport; today, a momentary lapse in protocol has injected a wholly unexpected twist into the narrative. A simple miscommunication – a red flag deployed where it was desperately needed – has momentarily disrupted the established order, a reminder that even the most meticulously planned races can be shaped by the unpredictable currents of human action, much like the political maneuvering that defined the early years of this sport.

F1ABY Trivia

The air hangs thick with the scent of fuel and anticipation – a familiar aroma around Port Monaco. Coulthard, piloting a McLaren-Mercedes MP4-17F with its 446 horsepower V10, has seized the lead, exploiting a slight miscalculation in Trulli’s Jordan-Mugen-Honda’s tire strategy. A curious detail: the Honda engine, despite being significantly down on displacement compared to its rivals, delivered a startling 160 bhp advantage during those crucial first few laps. Whiting’s momentary lapse, however, has brought the race to a halt, a stark reminder that even the most meticulously planned events can be disrupted by the unexpected.

The rain, a persistent, sullen grey, descended upon Monaco, mirroring the strategic calculations swirling amongst the teams. Coulthard’s victory, his first of the season, occurred amidst a perplexing trend: McLaren now held a statistically improbable lead in pole position counts, reaching seven to Ferrari’s five. This numerical divergence, a subtle yet significant shift in the championship battle, demanded observation. The interruption – a misfired red flag – further complicated matters, adding a layer of unpredictability to a race already defined by its statistical oddities.

F1ABY Tales

The air hangs thick with the scent of burning rubber and desperation. Coulthard, a fraction of a second separating him from the lead, wrestled with the McLaren’s balance, the narrow streets of Monaco amplifying every subtle shift. A misstep here, a momentary lapse in concentration, and the crown slips away – a lesson etched into the very DNA of Formula One. Whiting’s error, a mechanical hiccup, threatens to derail the race, a disconcerting parallel to the geopolitical instability that defined the era.

The rain, a persistent, sullen grey, mirrored the mood in the grandstands – a quiet anticipation laced with the knowledge of Monaco’s capricious nature. Jarno Trulli, a man perpetually wrestling with the devil’s own machinery, stood beside Schumacher, a thoughtful frown etched upon his face. The Italian’s focus was absolute; a subtle tightening of the jaw, a brief, almost imperceptible adjustment to the steering wheel. A palpable tension hung in the air, the potential for disaster – a single misstep, a momentary lapse – amplified by the slick asphalt and the unforgiving walls. The atmosphere felt heavy, pregnant with the possibility of a dramatic shift in fortunes. Whiting, the Race Director, a figure of calm authority, meticulously checked the timing screens, a silent sentinel against the storm.