The Spanish GP-:

Mika Hakkinen had won the last three GP's in Catalunya and when he finished second in qualifying on Saturday, it looked as if he had a great chance of winning his fourth. Michael Schumacher was on pole and David Coulthard was third with the second Ferrari of Rubens Barrichello occupying fourth. The two Williams did not look at all strong and the great impression they made at Imola looked to have vanished. Montoya was truly pathetic in twelfth place. Villeneuve was looking good in seventh place for BAR.

Raceday started badly for Coulthard as he stalled his car on the formation lap and even though he got it started he had to start from dead last. This was a drawback to McLaren's strategy. Michael got a good start and so did Hakkinen as they hung on to their respective positions. The order too remained fairly static except for Montoya. He started from 11th due to Coulthard's failure but he made a superb start and climbed to 6th position.

Michael and Mika separated themselves from the rest of the pack and were enjoying a few good fast laps, but way down the order Coulthard was having trouble. He bumped into Bernoldi and had to make an early pit-stop for a quick front wing replacement.

Michael set a new lap record which was nearly half a second faster than last year. There was disappointment for the Williams team though when Ralf Schumacher spun off the track and into the gravel trap on the 22nd lap. His race was over. Michael pitted first and the Ferrari crew was able to put in a good pit-stop timing. Hakkinen pitted a few laps after him but despite a few very good lap times in which he set a new track record Michael was able to jump him before he could exit the pits.

The chase between the two continued till the next round of pit-stops when Michael had serious trouble with his third set of tyres allowing Mika to come out before him and thus take over 1st position. Mika started to extend his lead over Michael by about 1.5 seconds per lap. Barrichello had a front suspension problem and had to retire towards the end of the race but the real drama was yet to come. On the last lap Mika was leading Michael by over 40 seconds but as he lapped Montoya something looked wrong. His car started to lose speed and smoke and flames started to erupt from underneath the car. Mid-lap the car came to a total standstill and he just about managed to park it on the side of the track! The McLaren and Ferrari pit crew looked on in disbelief as Michael Schumacher easily overtook him and went on to win his third race of the season. Mika Hakkinen could only helplessly wait for help as he remained stranded next to his car as many drivers offered him a lift, however Mika let his team-mate and good friend David Coulthard on his post race lap pick him up and  give him a lift to the pits waving to the crowd for their support. There was nothing else poor Hakkinen could do. He put up very bravely and when Schumacher came to console him he showed that he actually was happy for Schumacher's good fortune.

Montoya took second place and Jacques Villeneuve who had driven a superb race took the chequered flag in third place! This was the first podium position for BAR and the first for Jacques in nearly three years! Montoya's second place too was very well deserved and it was a long time coming. Trulli took fourth while Coulthard took fifth ahead of Nick Heidfeld who has had a superb beginning to the season.

So, Michael Schumacher has got a huge lead over Mika Hakkinen (32 pts.) while his lead over Coulthard is now 8 pts. A non-finish for both Barrichello and Ralf Schumacher has caused no change in third and fourth places. Montoya meanwhile has kick-started his campaign and I dare say he is the best thing that has happened to Williams since Jacques Villeneuve.

Mika Hakkinen must not give up. Only bad luck caused him this major upset and he must really fight hard.

Austria comes next. After all that we have witnessed I wonder what's up next!!!!!