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| Australian
GP - Race
1.20 It is 40 minutes before the start. Melbourne weather is cloudy and mild. Depending on the cloud track temperatures could be very high for the race. Minardi, as a result of a special ruling will be allowed to start both cars, even though Marques qualified outside of 107 percent of Michael Schumacher's pole time. 1.25 Cars out on the track, most only doing one lap to make sure it is all working. 1.35 Grid starting to line up 1.40 Mika Hakkinen's car is already in position. Nosecone is off - they seem to be working on the steering. 1.45 Both Ferrari's are now on the grid - both drivers are out of the cars 1.50 All cars on the grid 1.53 Drivers are getting into the cars 1.55 Still overcast but chances of rain is low 1.58 With the cloud cover track temperatures are still below 30 degrees Celcius. 1.59 Grid clearing - it is about to start 2.00 Green lights all cars off on formation lap. 2.02 Investigation by stewards of Jenson Button. 2.03 Lined up on the grid 2.04 Michael Schumacher gets away in 1st while Rubens Barrichello drops back to 5th 2.05 Mika Hakkinen 2nd 2.06 Eddie Irvine has spun off 2.07 Top 4: Michael Schumacher, Mika Hakkinen, Heinz Harald Frentzen, Rubens Barrichello - Barrichello all over Frentzen - he touched Frentzen and Frentzen goes off and rejoins in 14th - David Coulthard up into 4th 2. 08 Enrique Bernoldi spins and retires 2.09 Mika Hakkinen is staying in touch with Michael Schumacher 2.10 Jarno Trulli is in 5th 2.11 Jacques Villeneuve touches the back of Ralf's car and both go off in a huge shunt. Safety car on 2.14 Jacques Villeneuve is OK - it was a very big crash - he was airborne when he hit the wall. 2.15 Race order now Michael Schumacher, Mika Hakkinen, Rubens Barrichello, David Coulthard and Jarno Trulli 2.18 Lap 8 still behind pace car 2.22 Race order now Michael Schumacher, Mika Hakkinen, Rubens Barrichello, David Coulthard, Jarno Trulli, Olivier Panis, Jos Verstappen and Nick Heidfeld 2.24 Someone is hurt - the track has been cleared of rubble but an ambulance is out on the track. 2.26 Still under pace car - this will change fuel consumption and pit stop strategy will change. 2.28 Ambulance back on track after loading the injured person - still do not know who got hurt. Track should be clear now. 2.34 on lap 13 now 2.35 Lap 14 still behind pace car 2.36 Verstappen in the pits for tyre change and top up 2.38 Safety car in, Mika Hakkinen closes on Michael Schumacher. 2.39 Michael Schumacher opens up a second lead on Mika Hakkinen. Jenson Button has a 10 second "Stop and Go" penalty due to arriving late on the grid at the start. 2.41 Michael Schumacher fastest lap now 1.2 seconds ahead of Mika Hakkinen. Rubens Barrichello still hanging on to Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard still in touch with Rubens Barrichello. Heinz Harald Frentzen fighting his way back through the field. 2.43 Michael Schumacher posts another fastest lap. 2.44 Heinz Harald Frentzen now back in 11th spot. 2.46 On lap 20 Michael Schumacher has a lead of 1.9 seconds 2.48 1st four evenly spaced, separated by around 2.5 seconds. 2.50 Lap 24, Michael Schumacher now 3.4 seconds ahead of Mika Hakkinen followed by Rubens Barrichello, David Coulthard, Jarno Trulli and Olivier Panis 2.52 Heinz Harald Frentzen overtakes Giancarlo Fisichella who looks as if he is having some engine trouble 2.54 Mika Hakkinen crashed into a tyre wall following a suspension failure 2.56 Michael Schumacher now more than 10 seconds ahead of Rubens Barrichello 2.58 Order now: Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello and David Coulthard 3.00 Michael Schumacher slowed the gap to Rubens Barrichello under 10 seconds 3.02 Michael Schumacher fastest lap again 3.03 David Coulthard moving closer to Rubens Barrichello 3.04 Olivier Panis in 4th place ahead of Jarno Trulli 3.05 David Coulthard passes Rubens Barrichello and is now in second place 3.06 Jarno Trulli seems to be in trouble - he is slowing 3.07 Michael Schumacher fastest lap again 3.08 Retirements: Mika Hakkinen, Ralf Schumacher, Jacques Villeneuve, Tarso Marques, Gaston Mazzacane. 3.10 Michael Schumacher into the pits for routine stop 3.11 Michael Schumacher comes out in 3rd place Coulthard now in the lead 3.12 Nick Heidfeld in for pit stop as well as Eddie Irvine. 3.14 Rubens Barrichello pits 3.16 David Coulthard pits and rejoins in second place 3.17 Juan Pablo Montoya retires with a blown engine 3.18 Michael Schumacher leads David Coulthard and Rubens Barrichello followed by Olivier Panis, Nick Heidfeld and Heinz Harald Frentzen 3.20 on 44th lap 3.23 No change 3.25 Michael Schumacher is maintaining his lead at around 8 seconds now 3.27 Heinz Harald Frentzen is closing in on Nick Heidfeld. 3.29 Giancarlo Fisichella is still circulating - although slowly 3.30 Heinz Harald Frentzen is now right on Nick Heidfeld's gearbox - fighting for 5th place 3.32 David Coulthard is catching Michael Schumacher. 3.34 Michael Schumacher increases his lead again by 1/2 second to 7.5 seconds 3.36 Lap 54 no change 3.38 David Coulthard is reducing the gap again - down to below 6 seconds 3.40 Rubens Barrichello now 23 seconds behind David Coulthard 3.42 Kimi Raikkonen in 7th place is 3rd fastest - Jenson Button has retired 3.43 Michael Schumacher starts his final lap 3.44 Michael Schumacher wins the Australian Grand Prix ahead of David Coulthard (1.7 seconds) 3.45 Rubens Barrichello crossed the line in third followed by Olivier Panis, Nick Heidfeld and Heinz Harald Frentzen.
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