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Sunday, 9 April, 2000, 16:40 GMT 17:40 UK
Schumacher nets the hat-trick
![]() Schumacher (left) blocked Coulthard at the start
Michael Schumacher has won his third Grand Prix of the year to take a dominant early season position in the race for the drivers' world title.
The German delighted the massed Ferrari fans by winning the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola - the Italian team's home track.
The race was a tactical victory for Ferrari over Hakkinen's McLaren team. The Finn led from the start until lap 44 when he made his final pit stop of two.
He came out two seconds ahead of Hakkinen, and held on to the advantage until the end. Hakkinen's British team-mate David Coulthard was third ahead of Schumacher's fellow Ferrari driver Rubens Barrichello. Coulthard's inability to make an impact on the leaders was down to an unfortunate start.
The German's sluggishness certainly worked to Ferrari's advantage as fourth-placed Barrichello stole third from the Scot around the first chicane. Hakkinen immediately pulled away with Schumacher chasing, but Barrichello's pace hindered Coulthard's progress.
Retirements in the first 10 laps included Heinz-Harald Frentzen, whose Jordan was jammed in sixth gear, and Jenson Button whose BMW engine appeared to blow. Although the young Briton locked up and drove off the circuit, oil left by the car still caused Minardi's Marc Gene to spin off. At the front Hakkinen steadily began to pull out his lead over Schumacher, with the gap widening to over four seconds by lap 23.
Coulthard pitted at the end of lap 25 and held onto fourth place, with Hakkinen and Schumacher coming in two laps later. The German spent slightly longer with his stop suggesting he might be taking on more fuel for his second stint.
Hakkinen made his second stop at the end of the 44th tour around the circuit, leaving the German's final pit move as the decisive moment of the race. Before that happened Coulthard followed Barrichello into the pits, and pulled just ahead of him in a thrilling and dangerous moment which decided third place.
The Scot pulled away from the Brazilian by almost two seconds a lap after 46 frustratiing trips around Imola for the McLaren driver. Then followed the crucial moment for the thousands of Ferrari fans at Imola, as Schumacher delivered a searing 48th lap before stopping at the end of it.
Because Schumacher had taken on more fuel for the second stint, he enjoyed the advantage of needing four laps less for the final charge to the chequered flag. The difference between pair was still less than three seconds, but Hakkinen was unable to close the gap. And Schumacher took the chequered flag to a roar of approval from the grandstands packed with Ferrari's tifosi. Results
1. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari 1 hour 31 minutes
39.776 seconds (average speed 200.043 kph) Did not finish:
15. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Jordan 58 laps completed
16. Pedro de la Rosa (Spain) Arrows 49 laps Fastest lap: Hakkinen, lap 60, 1:26.523
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