1998 Japanese Grand Prix

Race details
Race 16 of 16 in the 1998 Formula One season
Date	November 1, 1998
Official name	XXIV Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix
Location	Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Mie, Japan
Course	Permanent racing facility 5.864 km (3.644 mi)
Distance	51 laps, 299.064 km (185.830 mi)
Scheduled Distance	53 laps, 310.792 km (193.117 mi)
Weather	Fine
Pole position
Driver	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Time	1:36.293
Fastest lap
Driver	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Time	1:40.190
Podium
First	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren-Mercedes
Second	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari
Third	David Coulthard	McLaren-Mercedes

The 1998 Japanese Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Suzuka on November 1, 1998.

Classification[link]

Pos	No	Driver	Constructor	Laps	Time/Retired	Grid	Points
1	8	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren-Mercedes	51	1:27:22.535	2	10
2	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	51	+6.491	4	6
3	7	David Coulthard	McLaren-Mercedes	51	+27.662	3	4
4	9	Damon Hill	Jordan-Mugen-Honda	51	+1:13.491	8	3
5	2	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Williams-Mecachrome	51	+1:13.857	5	2
6	1	Jacques Villeneuve	Williams-Mecachrome	51	+1:15.867	6	1
7	14	Jean Alesi	Sauber-Petronas	51	+1:36.053	12
8	5	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton-Playlife	51	+1:41.302	10
9	6	Alexander Wurz	Benetton-Playlife	50	+1 Lap	9
10	15	Johnny Herbert	Sauber-Petronas	50	+1 Lap	11
11	11	Olivier Panis	Prost-Peugeot	50	+1 Lap	13
12	12	Jarno Trulli	Prost-Peugeot	48	Engine	14
Ret	22	Shinji Nakano	Minardi-Ford	40	Throttle	20
Ret	3	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	31	Tyre	1
Ret	21	Toranosuke Takagi	Tyrrell-Ford	28	Collision	17
Ret	23	Esteban Tuero	Minardi-Ford	28	Collision	21
Ret	18	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart-Ford	25	Hydraulics	16
Ret	19	Jos Verstappen	Stewart-Ford	21	Gearbox	19
Ret	17	Mika Salo	Arrows	14	Hydraulics	15
Ret	10	Ralf Schumacher	Jordan-Mugen-Honda	13	Engine	7
Ret	16	Pedro Diniz	Arrows	2	Spun off	18
DNQ	20	Ricardo Rosset	Tyrrell-Ford

Standings after Grand Prix[link]

Drivers' Championship standings Pos Driver Points 1 Mika Häkkinen 100 2 Michael Schumacher 86 3 David Coulthard 56 4 Eddie Irvine 47 5 Jacques Villeneuve 21

Constructors' Championship standings Pos Constructor Points 1 McLaren-Mercedes 156 2 Ferrari 133 3 Williams-Mecachrome 38 4 Jordan-Mugen-Honda 34 5 Benetton-Playlife 33

• Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.

Notes[link]

• Lap leaders: Mika Häkkinen 51 (1-51)
• Mika Häkkinen won his first driver's world championship with this victory.
• McLaren team won their first world constructor's title since 1991.
• Last race: Ricardo Rosset, Shinji Nakano, Esteban Tuero, Tyrrell, Goodyear.
• Michael Schumacher was due to start on pole but stalled and was put to the back of the grid. He fought back to 3rd but his tyre exploded. Schumacher had been due to make a pit stop whilst many suggest that he ran over debris. Schumacher was first past the chicane after Takagi and Tuero suffered a heavy collision.
• This was the last grand prix to be held in November until the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix.

Japanese Grand Prix

Suzuka Circuit
Race information
Laps	53
Circuit length	5.807 km (3.608 mi)
Race length	307.573 km (191.117 mi)
Number of times held	38
First held	1963
Most wins (drivers)	Michael Schumacher (6)
Most wins (constructors)	McLaren (9)
Last race (2011):
Pole position	Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1.30.785
Podium	1. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1:30:53.427 2. Fernando Alonso Ferrari +1.160 3. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault +2.006s
Fastest lap	Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1:36.568 on lap 52

The Japanese Grand Prix (日本グランプリ, Nihon-guranpuri^?) is a race in the calendar of the FIA Formula One World Championship. Traditionally one of the last, if not the last race of the season, the Japanese Grand Prix has been the venue for many title-deciding races, with 13 World Champions being crowned over the 27 World Championship Japanese Grands Prix that have been hosted.

The first two Japanese Grands Prix in 1976 and 1977 were held at the Fuji Speedway, before Japan was taken off the calendar. It returned in 1987 at Suzuka, which hosted the Grand Prix exclusively for 20 years and gained a reputation as one of the most challenging F1 circuits. In 2007 the Grand Prix moved back to the newly redesigned Fuji Speedway. After a second race at Fuji in 2008, the race returned to Suzuka in 2009.

The Japanese Grand Prix was supposed to continue alternating between Fuji Speedway and Suzuka Circuit, owned by perennial rivals Toyota and Honda, respectively. There had been speculation that both tracks would host Grands Prix, with the readoption of the Pacific Grand Prix moniker used by the TI Circuit when it hosted Grands Prix in 1994 and 1995.^[1] The race made Japan one of only six countries to host more than one Grand Prix in the same season (the others being Great Britain, Spain, Germany, Italy and the USA). It was discontinued primarily due to its location in a remote area of Japan.

In July 2009, Toyota announced it would not host the race at Fuji Speedway in 2010 and beyond due to a downturn in the global economy.^[2]

History[link]

Inaugural races[link]

The first Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix, in 1976, was held at the Fuji Speedway, 40 miles (64 km) west of Yokohama. The race was to become famous for the title decider between James Hunt and Niki Lauda as it was held during monsoon conditions. Lauda, who had survived a near-fatal crash at the German Grand Prix earlier in the season, withdrew from the race stating that his life was more important than the championship. Hunt scored the 3rd position he needed to win the title by the slender margin of one point. Hunt returned the next year to win the second Japanese Grand Prix, but a collision between Gilles Villeneuve and Ronnie Peterson during the race saw Villeneuve's Ferrari somersault into a restricted area, killing two spectators.^[3] The race did not reappear on the Formula One calendar for another decade.

Return to Japan at Suzuka[link]

On Formula 1's return to Japan in 1987, the Grand Prix found a new venue at Suzuka Circuit, 80 kilometres (50 mi) south west of Nagoya. The circuit, set inside a funfair, was designed by Dutchman John Hugenholtz and owned by Honda, who used it as a test track. Most notable initially for its layout—Suzuka is the only figure-eight race track to appear on the F1 calendar—immediately it saw another World Title decided, as Nigel Mansell injured himself when he crashed his Williams-Honda in practice and consequently could not start the race, effectively handing the title to his team-mate Nelson Piquet.

Suzuka will always be chiefly remembered, however, for the legendary feud between Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna. During the 1989 Grand Prix, Senna tried to overtake Prost to keep his Championship hopes alive, only for Prost to shut the door as he had stated before the race, saying he would not be giving up the position simply for McLaren not to be embarrassed by a double retirement. Prost was beached and got out of his car promptly, knowing he had won the championship whilst Senna got a push from the marshals. It was deemed, however, that he had cut the chicane and eventually disqualified after making his way up to the lead and being first on the track. He was infuriated by the decision, as shown in a video of the pre-race drivers' briefing the following year,^[4] as fellow driver Nelson Piquet argued it was dangerous for a driver to go against the traffic just to make the chicane. At the ensuing 1990 Japanese Grand Prix, Senna mimicked Prost's statement of the previous year saying he would not move over if Prost attempted to overtake in the first corner — Senna started at pole, with Prost second (albeit on the racing line) —, resulting in the two crashing out and thus handing Senna his second world championship. Both drivers have been accused of crashing into the other deliberately and thus the two situations as well as their comments after both incidents have tainted both driver's reputations in the eyes of most but die hard fans.

From its return to the Formula One calendar in 1987, the Japanese Grand Prix was one of the most popular with spectators. For the 1990 race, three million fans entered a draw for the 120,000 available tickets, due to the popularity of Honda's world championship successes as an engine supplier to the Williams and McLaren teams, and the fact that the country had produced its first full-time F1 driver in the shape of Satoru Nakajima.^{[original research?]} After Nakajima's retirement in 1991 and Honda's withdrawal from competition the following year, interest went into decline despite the addition of the Pacific Grand Prix to the F1 calendar, an event also held in Japan during the 1994 and 1995 seasons. The 1995 Japanese Grand Prix was the first for which the allocated tickets did not sell out.^[5] Subsequently, the appearance of new Japanese drivers such as Takuma Sato and the entry of Honda and Toyota as full manufacturer teams has restored the event to its former popularity.

The late 20th and early 21st century have seen a number of other, rather more sporting duels for the Championship at Suzuka, most memorably those between Michael Schumacher and Mika Häkkinen. The most notable of these was at the 2000 race, where Schumacher took advantage of his superior speed in damp conditions during a mid-race rain shower to secure the race win and his first World Title for Ferrari — his third in all.

At the 2003 Japanese Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher endured one of the most trying races^{[original research?]} in his career — needing to come at least eighth, he started at fourteenth on the grid — but managed to secure the point he needed to take his sixth World Championship, beating the record held by Juan Manuel Fangio. At the 2006 event Michael Schumacher led until an engine failure virtually ended his chances of an eighth championship.

The qualifying session for the 2004 Japanese Grand Prix, due to have been held on 9 October, was postponed until race day after a typhoon hit Suzuka. This led to the idea of holding qualifying sessions on a Sunday morning (an idea that was abandoned half-way through the following year). The 2005 race was one of the most exciting races of the season after many top drivers started near the back of the grid after the qualifying in variable weather. Kimi Räikkönen won the race after starting from 17th place, overtaking Giancarlo Fisichella at the beginning of the last lap.

Alternation between Suzuka and Fuji[link]

It was announced on March 24, 2006 by the FIA that future races will again be held at the redesigned Fuji Speedway in Oyama, Sunto District, Shizuoka Prefecture.^[6] The news of the Japanese Grand Prix moving to the circuit redesigned by Hermann Tilke was met with some trepidation, as Suzuka was a favorite of many of the drivers and Hermann Tilke's tracks have received mixed reviews from the drivers and the fans.

On 8 September 2007, it was announced that Fuji will alternate the Japanese Grand Prix with Suzuka, starting from 2009 onwards.^[7]

The 2007 race was held in torrential rain and started behind the safety car. Lewis Hamilton took the victory while his team-mate Fernando Alonso crashed heavily. Heikki Kovalainen finished 2nd, his best result until that date and Kimi Räikkönen 3rd, marking the first time that two Finnish drivers were together on the podium.

In 2008, the first corner brought troubles for the McLarens and the Ferraris, and Fernando Alonso was able to take win in a Renault. Felipe Massa was 7th after a penalty for a collision with title rival Lewis Hamilton, while Hamilton finished outside the points, having also served a penalty for an incident in the first corner.

Fuji Speedway withdraws[link]

In July 2009, Toyota cited a global economic slump as the reason that the Japanese Grand Prix would not return to Fuji Speedway in 2010 and beyond. The speedway argued, according to the Associated Press, that "continuing to host F1 races could threaten the survival of the company." As a result, the 2010 Grand Prix was held at Suzuka.^[8]

Sponsors[link]

Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix 1987-2009.

In 2010, the Japanese Grand Prix was not sponsored by Fuji Television for the first time in 23 years.

Winners of the Japanese Grand Prix[link]

Repeat winners (drivers)[link]

Embolded drivers are competing in the Formula One championship in the current season.
A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.

Number of wins	Driver	Years
6	Michael Schumacher	1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004
2	Motoharu Kurosawa	1969, 1973
	Gerhard Berger	1987, 1991
	Ayrton Senna	1988, 1993
	Damon Hill	1994, 1996
	Mika Häkkinen	1998, 1999
	Fernando Alonso	2006, 2008
	Sebastian Vettel	2009, 2010

Repeat winners (constructors)[link]

Embolded teams are competing in the Formula One championship in the current season.
A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.

# of wins	Constructor	Years won
9	McLaren	1977, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2007, 2011
7	Ferrari	1987, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
3	Benetton	1989, 1990, 1995
	Williams	1992, 1994, 1996
2	Porsche	1964, 1967
	Nissan	1968, 1969
	Lotus	1963, 1976
	Renault	2006, 2008
	Red Bull	2009, 2010

By year[link]

Events which were not part of the Formula One World Championship are indicated by a pink background.

Fuji used in 2007 and 2008

Fuji used in 1976 and 1977 (only the blue section)

Year	Driver	Constructor	Location	Report
2011	Jenson Button	McLaren-Mercedes	Suzuka	Report
2010	Sebastian Vettel	Red Bull-Renault		Report
2009	Sebastian Vettel	Red Bull-Renault		Report
2008	Fernando Alonso	Renault	Fuji	Report
2007	Lewis Hamilton	McLaren-Mercedes		Report
2006	Fernando Alonso	Renault	Suzuka	Report
2005	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren-Mercedes		Report
2004	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari		Report
2003	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari		Report
2002	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari		Report
2001	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari		Report
2000	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari		Report
1999	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren-Mercedes		Report
1998	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren-Mercedes		Report
1997	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari		Report
1996	Damon Hill	Williams-Renault		Report
1995	Michael Schumacher	Benetton-Renault		Report
1994	Damon Hill	Williams-Renault		Report
1993	Ayrton Senna	McLaren-Ford		Report
1992	Riccardo Patrese	Williams-Renault		Report
1991	Gerhard Berger	McLaren-Honda		Report
1990	Nelson Piquet	Benetton-Ford		Report
1989	Alessandro Nannini	Benetton-Ford		Report
1988	Ayrton Senna	McLaren-Honda		Report
1987	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari		Report
1986 – 1978	Not held
1977	James Hunt	McLaren-Ford	Fuji	Report
1976	Mario Andretti	Lotus-Ford		Report
1976	Jacques Laffite	BMW	Fuji	Report
1975	Masahiro Hasemi	March		Report
1974	Not held
1973	Motoharu Kurosawa	March	Fuji	Report
1972	John Surtees	Surtees		Report
1971	Kuniomi Nagamatsu	Mitsubishi		Report
1970	Not held
1969	Motoharu Kurosawa	Nissan	Fuji	Report
1968	Moto Kitano	Nissan		Report
1967	Tetsu Ikuzawa	Porsche		Report
1966	Yoshikazu Sunako	Prince		Report
1965	Not held
1964	Michael Knight	Brabham	Suzuka	Report
1963	Peter Warr	Lotus-Cosworth		Report

References[link]

External links[link]

• Japanese Grand Prix (Unofficial)

Look up Grand Prix in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Grand Prix (French pronunciation: [ɡʁɑ̃pʁi], meaning "Grand Prize"; plural Grands Prix) may refer to:

Competitions[link]

• Grand Prix (snooker), a former name of the World Open
• Six-red World Grand Prix, a former name of the Sangsom Six-red World Championship
• IAAF Grand Prix Final, an athletics competitions replaced by the IAAF World Athletics Final
• Grand Prix de Futsal, international futsal competition
• Grand Prix gliding
• Grand Prix tennis circuit
• ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating
• FIVB World Grand Prix
• World Grand Prix (darts)
• Grand Prix (Magic: The Gathering)
• Aero GP, flying competition
• IAAF Super Grand Prix, a series of athletics meetings held until 2009
• Some of the meetings in the series that succeeded the IAAF Super Grand Prix
  • Adidas Grand Prix
  • British Grand Prix (athletics)
  • London Grand Prix
  • Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix
  • Shanghai Golden Grand Prix

Racing[link]

• Grand Prix motor racing, form of racing that has evolved into Formula One racing
  • List of Formula One Grands Prix
  • Formula One
• Grand Prix motorcycle Road Racing, known commonly as MotoGP after its premier class.
  • List of Grand Prix motorcycle races
• Grand Prix Chantal Biya, a road bicycle racing event
• U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross, a cyclo-cross bicycle racing series
• Grand Prix Masters
• A1 Grand Prix
• D1 Grand Prix
• Speedway Grand Prix (motorcycle speedway)

Chess[link]

• Grand Prix Attack, a chess opening
• USCF Grand Prix
• FIDE Grand Prix 2008–2009

Equestrianism[link]

• Grand Prix (horse race), the original name of the Prix Gladiateur, a horse race in France
• Nakayama Grand Prix, original name of the Arima Kinen horse race in Japan
• Grand Prix Dressage
• Grand Prix show jumping

Combat sports[link]

• K-1 World Grand Prix, K-1's annual kickboxing World Grand Prix tournaments
• Strikeforce Grand Prix, the name for a competition run by Strikeforce
• Pride Grand Prix, the name for a series of tournaments held by Pride
• DREAM Grand Prix, the name for DREAM's various mixed martial arts Grand Prix tournaments
• IFL Grand Prix, the name for International Fight League's various mixed martial arts Grand Prix tournaments

Awards[link]

• Grand Prix (Cannes Film Festival)
• Grand Prix de Littérature Policière, annual literary award for French and international crime fiction
• Grand Prix de la ville d'Angoulême, a comics award
• Prix Saint-Michel, another comics award
• Grand Prix at International Film Festival Bratislava

Entertainment and arts[link]

• Eurovision Song Contest (originally named Grand Prix d'Eurovision de la Chanson)
• *Melodi Grand Prix - Norwegian selection for Eurovision
  • Dansk Melodi Grand Prix - Danish selection for Eurovision
• Grand Prix (album), by Teenage Fanclub
• Grand Prix (1934 film), a British film
• Grand Prix (1966 film), a 1966 film about Formula One motor racing
• Grand Prix (2010 film), a South Korean film
• "Grand Prix" (CSI: Miami), seventh episode from second season of CSI: Miami
• Grand Prix (band), a hard rock and AOR band from the early 1980s

Video games[link]

• F-1 Sensation, the Japanese/European version of the cancelled NES game Grand Prix
• Formula One Grand Prix (video game)
  • Grand Prix 2
  • Grand Prix 3
  • Grand Prix 4
• Grand Prix (video game) by Activision
• Grand Prix Challenge, by Atari
• Grand Prix Circuit (video game), by Accolade
• Grand Prix Legends (1967 season)
• A gameplay mode in all seven Mario Kart games

Other uses[link]

• Pontiac Grand Prix, an automobile formerly manufactured by General Motors
• Grand Prix (drinks), a line of soft drinks sold in Canada by Dominion Stores in the 1960s

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