Having taken his first pole position of the year, Michael Schumacher looked a safe bet to wrap up the Spanish Grand Prix. He started strongly, using hard tyres, compared to the softs run by almost the entire field, and pulled out a small gap on the pursuing Mika Hakkinen which he held until he dived into the pits on lap 24.

Due to an error by the lollipop man, who raised his paddle before the refuelling hose had been withdrawn, Schuey shot out of his pit space, causing leg injuries to his refuelling man, Nigel Stepney. There was no delay, however, and after Hakkinen's stop Schuey continued in the lead until the second round of pit stops.

The replacement fuel hose man was not as well versed as Stepney and this stop took a lengthy 17 secs, which gave the lead to Hakkinen, who by then was some 10 secs up the road. Ever further problems were to befall the leading Ferrari when Schuey had to pit for a third time due to a slowly deflating rear tyre.

This, however, was not before one of the most dramatic moments of the race when Michael, already slowed by his leaky tyre, edged brother Ralf on to the marbles and thus enabled Rubens Barrichello to slip passed them both and finish in an eventual third place, behind the two leading McLarens.

Barrichello had a dull race, worryingly being unable to maintain the pace of the McLarens. Like Eddie Irvine the year before, any discussions about who is No. 1 and No. 2 driver in the Ferrari team is entirely superfluous until someone can actually show they are able to get on to the pace of Michael Schumacher.

Jean Todt: "Today's result is disappointing, despite Rubens's good third place. We have lost ten points in the Constructors's championship and given away eight to Hakkinen and four to Coulthard in the Drivers' title with Michael. However, we have always known that even a big advantage can easily be reduced. Our drivers had different tyre choices, medium for Michael and soft for Rubens. It was a good fight between Michael and Hakkinen, at least up to the second pit stop. At Michael's first stop, Nigel Stepney, who operates the refuelling hose, was knocked over as the car left the pits due to a misunderstanding with the lollipop man. Fortunately, his only injury was a twisted ankle. However, we lost precious time at the second stop. Then, Michael was forced to make a third stop, because of a slow puncture on the left rear wheel, which we are currently investigating."

Rubens Barrichello: "Even though I finished third I cannot say I had a very good race. I got bogged down at the start and had too much wheelspin. Ralf and David got good starts but I was not prepared to risk everything in the first corner. The race itself was a bit boring, because even if the car ahead is two seconds slower, unless the driver makes a big mistake, it is impossible to overtake here. I was looking to overtake the car in front of me as happened at the first stop with David. As we are in the first garage that normally gives you an advantage and I came in so fast. But then my stop was slow. As I was following Michael and Ralf I asked myself if they were going to crash! Then I got a good run inside and passed both of them."

Michael Schumacher: "You cannot always have lucky races and today's race did not go so well for us. Maybe it had something to do with my tyre choice, but there were also other factors. But considering the problems we had, at least we have scored some points. I am therefore only a little bit disappointed, because everybody tried their best. We had a problem at the first stop and that gave us problems for the second one also. At the first one, the lollipop man lifted it and then put it down again. But it is impossible to stop that quickly. I felt I had driven over something and I looked in my mirror and saw a mechanic on the ground. I asked the team what happened but they did not reply. Then I had a slow puncture and it was obvious that the race was out of our hands. I am not angry. I took two important points and we are still looking very strong for the rest of the season. As for the move with my brother, all I can say is that racing is racing."

RACE RESULTS

Spanish Grand Prix
Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelone; 65 laps, 307.323 Kms;
Weather: Dry, partly cloudy

Fastest Lap: M.Hakkinen, 1:24.470 (201.586 km/h)

Acknowledgement - Race data by Atlas F1, Pictures by Sports.com.

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