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21-may-2000
Race Results - European Grand Prix 2000 Season
Disappointment for Jordan in Nurburgring as Michael Schumacher delights German crowds.

Michael Schumacher delighted the German crowds by winning the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring. Fans who had not allowed cold and wet weather to dampen their ardour for their hero were justly rewarded. Schumacher's victory marks his fourth win this year and puts him 18 points clear of Hakkinen in the Drivers' Championship.

For Benson and Hedges Jordan the Nurburgring brought huge disappointments; both cars were eliminated within three laps of the start of the race. Jarno Trulli’s car collided with the Benetton of Giancarlo Fisichella on the run down towards the first corner, damaging the left rear wheel and suspension and forcing him to pull off the track. Heinz-Harald Frentzen was forced onto the grass at the first corner, but recovered to hold 12th position before a suspected engine failure resulted in his immediate retirement on lap 3.


“Obviously a very disappointing day for us," said Jordan's Chief Executive Eddie Jordan. "But this is what can happen in motor racing. Jarno was unlucky to come into contact with the Benetton, while Heinz-Harald was the victim of a technical failure. We will just have to keep working hard because the results will come, and I am already looking forward to the race in Monte Carlo in two weeks time.”


“I had a very good start," said Trulli, "and was trying to overtake Ralf Schumacher on the straight when suddenly Fisichella lost control of his car and hit me from behind. My car was completely damaged and I was lucky to keep driving as otherwise it would have been very dangerous. I am obviously very disappointed as we knew we were capable to have a really good result here.”

Frentzen commented, “This has been a very disappointing weekend all round. Things just have not gone our way and it is frustrating when we know that the car was very competitive here. I had escaped being caught up in a collision at the first corner, and I was feeling in control, running on a high fuel load which was our strategy decision, when my engine blew. All we can do is put this race behind us.”

Jordan was not the only team to suffer disappointment, with the wet race producing several casualties. Irvine and Ralf Schumacher were caught up in a collision with Jos Verstappen which resulted in all three cars crashing out. Conditions in the race were tough as Coulthard explained in the post race press conference. "I had to concentrate extremely hard to make sure I kept the car on the track," he said. "I had several 'big' moments, " added race winner Michael Schumacher. "But that is normal in wet conditions such as these."

Jaguar was not able to take advantage of other team's misfortunes. They, along with Prost and Minardi, have yet to score points, although Minardi came in touching distance of points with an 8th place finish by Mazzacane.

Those who came through to finish included Fisichella, whose car was undamaged by his collision with Trulli. He went on to take fifth place for Benetton. Arrows won their first points of the season, and their first since Australia 1999, thanks to a sixth place finish by Pedro de la Rosa.



Jordan


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  "   photography available from Sutton Motorsport Images


European GP - Race Results
  Position    Number    Driver    Team    time     
  1    3    M Schumacher    Ferrari    1.42.00     
  2    1    Hakkinen    McLaren    1.42.14     
  3    2    Coulthard    McLaren    1.42.07     
  4    4    Barrichello    Ferrari    1.42.09     
  5    11    Fisichella    Benetton    1.42.21     
  6    18    De la Rosa    Arrows    1.42.37     
  7    16    Diniz    Sauber    1.42.37     
  8    21    Mazzacane    Minardi    1.42.44     
  9    14    Alesi    Prost    1.43.19     
  DNF                     
  10    10    Button    Williams    1.37.742     
  11    8    Herbert    Jaguar    1.35.337     
  12    12    Wurz    Benetton    1.35.55     
  Not Classified                     
      23    Zonta    BAR    1.20.052     
      20    Gene    Minardi    1.14.36     
      22    Villeneuve    BAR    1.11.35     
      7    Irvine    Jaguar    44.52     
      19    Verstappen    Arrows    44.52     
      9    R Schumacher    Williams    44.52     
      17    Salo    Sauber    41.54     
      5    Frentzen    Benson and Hedges Jordan    2.59     
      6    Trulli    Benson and Hedges Jordan    0     



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