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European Grand Prix at a Glance
When: Sunday Where: Nurburgring Circuit; Nurburg, Germany Series: Race 6 of 16 in Grand Prix series Laps: 67 Track length: 2.831 miles Race length: 189.674 miles
Fast FactsHakkinen won the race in 1998. ... Schumacher leads Hakkinen 36-22 in the driver standings. ... Ferrari leads the constructors standing 49-42 over McLaren.
Drivers to WatchJean Alesi -- The Frenchman has performed well at this track; posted runner-up finishes at Nurburgring in 1995 and 1997; best finish in five races this season was 10th at the British Grand Prix; only Formula One victory was the 1995 Canadian Grand Prix.
Rubens Barrrichello -- In Spain two weeks ago, the Brazilian started third but dropped to fifth at the start; midway through the race he slipped past the Schumacher brothers to go on and finish third; also finished runner-up in Australia and fourth in San Marino; was third at Nurburgring last year. Jenson Button -- The young and confident new Formula One sensation has scored points in two of five races; in Spain, his engine blew, costing him a sixth-place finish; the 20-year-old English racer already has impressed on the circuit. David Coulthard -- The 29-year-old Scott showed courage and determination to drive and finish second in Spain, considering five days prior to the race he walked away from a plane crash (along with his fiancee and personal trainer) in France with just bruised ribs; as a sign of respect to the two pilots who died in the crash, Coulthard did not participate in the usual champagne spraying celebration; has finished on the podium the last four races, but had his second place taken away in Brazil due to car irregularities; won the British Grand Prix on April 23; finished third at Nurburg in 1998 as best result here. Heinz-Harald Frentzen -- Third-place finish in Brazil was his best result this season; took the sixth spot for one point in Barcelona when Jenson Button retired four laps from the end; not the promising year he had hoped for after a career season in 1999 when he won two races, scored three third-place finishes and six fourth-place results to finish third in the drivers' championship with 54 points; should be a crowd favorite along with the Schumacher brothers; was fifth at the Nurburgring circuit in 1998; lost power and had to retire midway through the race last year after starting from the pole. Mika Hakkinen -- The reigning F1 champion won his first race of the season in Spain; the points standings are somewhat more balanced now with Hakkinen 14 points behind Michael Schumacher (36-22) and David Coulthard a close third with 20; won the European Grand Prix in 1998 (his first championship season) and finished fifth here last year. Johnny Herbert -- Is the defending champion of the European Grand Prix (his third career victory); had mechanical problems in Spain and never was a factor in the race; 10th at Imola was the top finish so far this season. Eddie Irvine -- Struggling with team Jaguar after five races; no points earned and seventh was best finish at Imola; clutch problems at the start of the race in Spain prevented him from making any impact; dropped back in the field and ran out the race in formation with teammate Johnny Herbert. Michael Schumacher -- Two pit-lane errors cost the world championship leader the race in Spain; he led 38 of the first 41 laps but ended up fifth after a pair of eventful pit stops and a duel with his brother for position; after five races he has 36 points, followed by Mika Hakkinen in second with 22; crewman Nigel Stepney, who operates the refueling hose, suffered a twisted left ankle in the first pit-stop incident, caused by a miscommunication; started 2000 with three successive wins for Ferrari; won at Nurburg in 1994 and 1995 while with Benetton; his 38 victories puts him three behind the late Ayrton Senna and in third place on the all-time F1 list. Ralf Schumacher -- A rough duel with his brother during the race at Catalunya, with their father in attendance, forced him to drop a spot for a fourth-place finish; having an excellent season thus far for Williams BMW and looks to continue that in front of the German fans; third on the podium in Australia was a promising start to the season; he followed that up with a fifth in Brazil and a pair of fourth-place scores in England and Spain; failed to complete race at San Marino; 12 points earned is good for fifth place in the standings; finished fourth in this race last year. Jacques Villeneuve -- Ran sixth in Spain before a hydraulic problem (oil leak) forced him to retire on lap 21; won this race in 1996 and 1997 while driving for Williams; has five points this season after earning none in 1999; fourth place in Australia was top result; has 12 career F1 wins, but none since the Luxembourg GP in September 1997.
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