Canadian GP Bridgestone Race Report

Montreal, June 13, 1999 1999 CANADIAN GRAND PRIX -- RACE

Hakkinen lasts the distance

In an incident-packed race which saw the retirement of the three other world champions taking part, Mika Hakkinen took his third victory of the 1999 season in the Canadian Grand Prix. Retaining his 2nd position on the grid away from the start, Finland's reigning world champion moved his McLaren in front on lap 30 when race leader Michael Schumacher's Ferrari crashed into the wall at the final corner. The race was marked by three periods under the Safety Car, including the final two laps, and by a late charge from Eddie Irvine, who snatched third place with three laps to go. Irvine completed the top three placings behind the Benetton of Giancarlo Fisichella, whose Canadian luck enabled him to make up three places in the run to the first corner. Hakkinen has now regained the lead in the 1999 drivers' world championship, in which he has 34 points to the 30 of Schumacher.

Yoshihiko Ichikawa, Bridgestone Motorsport Technical Manager:

"With track temperatures reaching 47 degrees during the race, we were delighted learn that there were no cases of tyre degradation this afternoon with the Soft compound tyre. Magny-Cours will not be as kind to tyres as Montreal, so next week's test will be important."

Steve Hallam, Chief Engineer, West McLaren Mercedes:

"Because the Safety Car was deployed three times this afternoon, it virtually wrote the story of the race. When that happened in the early stages of the race, it automatically means a saving of fuel at a critical moment. This in turn means that our original strategy had to be adjusted, so we were moving with the situation as it developed before deciding exactly when to make our pit stop. When the Safety Car came out for the second time it gave us an opportunity to make our stops then, and it worked very well for us. Once we had rejoined the race and Mika was still in the lead, it was just a case of maintaining the pace, looking after the car and making sure it was still in front at the finish. Schumacher's accident obviously made the situation a little easier for us, but it is impossible to say what the outcome would have been if he had not crashed. I also wish to put it on the record that the Soft tyre worked very well for us."

Test in Magny Cours

Bridgestone engineers will be at the Magny Cours circuit next week at the second FOA-organised test of the season. Nine out of the eleven Formula One teams will be attending this test, which is scheduled for June 16, 17 and 18. All the teams taking part will have the opportunity to evaluate the performance of the Soft and Medium compound on the French circuit prior to its Grand Prix on June 27.

TEMPERATURES AIR TRACK WEATHER

Morning         23º-24        º 30º-        Sunny - dry
Afternoon         32º-32        º 47º-        Sunny -- dry