belgian grand prix belgian grand prix formally foster belgian grand prix formula motor race held august belgium thirteenth race formula season belgian grand prix lap race won driver started pole position finished second ferrari williams driver race began safety car car returned pit lane built comfortable lead track dried rivals pit stops maintained lead spin gave lead remainder race 34th lap tyres began drove racing line cool allowed close gap lap overtook lead bar driver maintaining lead win set fastest lap time ferrari hampered poor qualifying performance retired fuel pressure problem thirteen laps finish victory extended lead drivers championship points seven points retirement dropped points championship extended lead points ferrari races remaining season report background grand prix contested teams drivers teams known ferrari jordan jaguar williams arrows bar tyre supplier brought different tyre types race dry compounds soft medium wet weather compounds hard soft wet weather tyres introduced race weekend response prospective rival tyre supplier beginning tyre development program year resulting increasing development rate research advances race driver led drivers championship points ahead points fourth points fifth championship led points point ahead rival ferrari williams points points jordan contended fourth place ferrari dominated championship winning previous races second place finishes finished hungarian grand prix august teams conducted mid season testing august test driver fastest day ahead williams test driver car water leak resulting repairs limited team testing time remained fastest second day arrows car failure limiting team testing time car floor removed install new fastest final day testing ferrari opted test suspension tyres car later moved conducting engine setup tests ferrari test driver remained development work new car components opted test august driver conducted day car test test driver aerodynamic development days concentrating practice starts day september automobile released provisional calendar season dropping formula world championship belgian tobacco advertising laws threatened cancel race teams tobacco sponsorship revived alternatives cancelled dispute resolved belgian government race advertising law reinstated meeting paris october ferrari arrived circuit lighter powerful version engine saturday qualifying session returning development power plant hungarian grand prix revised aerodynamic package practice qualifying sessions practice sessions held sunday race friday saturday friday morning afternoon sessions lasted hour fourth sessions saturday morning lasted minutes conditions dry friday morning afternoon practice sessions set session fastest time lap tenths second quicker fastest time positions drivers seventh eighth ahead williams cars button completed fuel pressure problem prevented completing timed lap slowest overall second practice session slow rear session lap fastest second fastest time jaguar driver changed car balance improving performance finishing fastest moved fourth changes car setup slipped fifth finished sixth seventh fastest ahead weather remained dry saturday morning practice sessions set fastest lap session quicker best friday ahead engine problem early session fifth fastest ahead button driver rounded final practice session improve time remained fastest button car handling set second fastest time jordan drivers fourth ahead completed slower drivers anxious moment car shed engine cover able return garage saturday afternoon qualifying session lasted hour driver limited laps grid order decided drivers fastest laps session rule effect requiring driver remain fastest lap time qualify race session held dry weather ambient temperature track temperature clinched fifth pole position season circuit time optimistic race prospects concerned start joined row grid best qualifying performance season grand prix optimistic chances jordan team strong record circuit button qualified said happy starting position secured fourth position tenths second setting lap time pushed teammate fifth problems grip believed faster lap time secured sixth position caught traffic final run keeping williams driver quicker lap time seventh reported qualified eighth best lap time disqualified blocked bus stop caused run grass rounded drivers spinning run locking brakes eleventh missed tenths second quick run session teammate qualified twelfth tyre grip problems ahead slower bars lost half second faster arrows driver qualified 17th despite spinning triggering yellow flag qualified 18th ahead engine problems shared spare drivers qualified grid positions race drivers took track utc minute warm wet weather lap times slower previous days practice qualifying sessions maintained good performance setting time second fastest driver button thousands second completed tenths second struck barriers heavily turn spinning sideways launched air landing upside session suspended cleared track debris sustained bruised left knee forced start race team spare car damaged car rear end crash later session able continue race began local time air track temperatures clouds rain predicted race standing water track causing heavy spray visibility meant race start safety car cars wet tyres started pit lane changed team spare car engine failed warm race began formation lap safety car period spun passed received second stop penalty served lap safety car entered pit lane lap cars allowed overtake crossing start finish line maintained lead going corner followed button ran wide turn losing ninth place end racing lap dropped rear field lost 16th position lap running wide turn losing places began pull away button tried pass fourth lap bus stop ran wide lost position lap driver pit dry tyres beginning fifth lap increased lead seconds ahead button button attempted overtake outside bus stop left inside open pass place took second place button attempted follow inside contact jordan driver sent spin retirement race button lost positions incident lap michael leaders pit dry tyres began setting faster lap times runners pit stop lead lap seven followed button emerged ahead retain lead pit stop following lap emerging ninth position drivers pit stops end lap race order button lap overtook seventh whilst collided arrows driver tried pass slowing bus stop wing damage later retired electrical problem beginning lap closed gap seconds consecutive fastest laps later lap touched corner sent spinning sideways grass took lead race retirement car developed mechanical problem lap runner scheduled pit stop lap rejoined tenth laps passed twelfth whilst pit stop sixth position came eleventh lap increased lead seconds seconds maintained second gap teammate button pit stop lap emerging position lap passed ninth position laps pit stops button pit stop fourth position lap lap later told team pit boards speed reduce gap heavier fuel load button dropped eighth position came pit stops lap emerging ahead lap passed sixth position setting fastest lap race lap consecutive fastest laps making second pit stop lap car fuel pressure dropped pushed pit lane similar problem retired button inherited fourth place final scheduled driver pit stop lap end lap scheduled pit stops running order button gene lap tyres began ran racing line cool driving water gradually closed gap fifth passed button fourth position lap tried pass lead 40th lap approach drafting blocked defend position drivers contact receiving minor damage wing forced lift throttle following lap drivers moved outside lane pass lead kept lead rest race crossing finish line lap fourth victory season time average speed miles hour finished second seconds ahead fourth button fifth place rounded point scoring positions sixth filled positions finished lap leader classified finishers race drivers appeared podium collect trophies later press conference delighted victory incredible win difficult unusual situation including spin course planned slippery lucky going able chase michael car got better better driver added wanted review overtaking manoeuvre performed illegal said despite improvements car unable match overall pace added experienced problems running line cool tyres happy run straight line speed assistance race closing stages said happy strong weekend car behaved perfectly little moment worry laps end throttle didn pick properly thought engine going stop came added team confident securing championship match pace praised team car set disappointed fourth place finish thought team decision pit lane competitors cost victory remained confident championship chances button disappointed finish fifth bad race worst car working start tried pass went bit late refused button race believing williams driver mistake felt similarly lap collision saying felt sorry describing weekend disastrous said struggled car balance resulted happy home good weekend said happy score points hoped better finish media focused overtaking lead lap race went told like later said unaware presence saw mirrors independent described impact career recognised driver worthy place sport heroes according team principal overtaking manoeuvre sure greatest formula history february chosen formula historians moment season use safety car start race mixed response sport agreed decision know debate fact asked said based previous years thing safety car start added safety car start eliminated overtaking prevented major accident agreed decision start safety car conditions itv commentator driver felt track wet safety car journalist said length time safety car conditions inadequate raised possibility abandoning standing starts race director consulted drivers representative making decision race remained drivers championship lead points second points seven points ahead nineteen ahead passed fifth place points moved ahead teammate championship maintained lead points ferrari remained second points williams increased lead points jordan remained fifth points given increased lead acknowledged team lacked speed season remaining races remained confident winning world championship classification qualifying race championship standings race note positions included sets standings
2000 Belgian Grand Prix