2000 United States Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Michael Schumacher led a Ferrari one-two as Formula 1 returned to the United States at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mika Häkkinen’s engine failure transformed the title contest, with Rubens Barrichello second and Heinz-Harald Frentzen completing the podium.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Pole time	1:14.266
Fastest lap	David Coulthard	McLaren
Fastest-lap time	1:14.711 on lap 40
First	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Second	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari
Third	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Jordan

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
22 September 2000	Practice 1	11:00
22 September 2000	Practice 2	13:00
23 September 2000	Practice 3	09:00
23 September 2000	Practice 4	10:15
23 September 2000	Qualifying	13:00
24 September 2000	Warm-up	08:30
24 September 2000	Race	13:00

All times are local. The race time is the scheduled start; weather delays and interruptions are described below.

Championship background

Mika Häkkinen arrived at round 15 leading the 2000 F1 World Championship on 80 points, with Michael Schumacher on 78. McLaren headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 131 points.

Race entries

All eleven teams kept their regular drivers for the first United States Grand Prix since 1991. The new Indianapolis road course combined a slow infield with part of the famous oval, presenting a fresh setup challenge to the entire field.

Free Practice

Michael Schumacher led the opening practice as drivers learned the new layout. David Coulthard stopped with an electrical fault and could not continue after receiving assistance. Giancarlo Fisichella damaged his Benetton in a crash, while Ralf Schumacher suffered a wheel-bearing failure, showing how much work remained beyond finding a quick lap.

David Coulthard recovered to head the afternoon ahead of Häkkinen as teams experimented with their setups. Johnny Herbert crashed at the first corner and damaged his Jaguar, ending his session early. Jean Alesi became stranded in the gravel, while the Ferraris retained their morning times in the combined order.

Friday Practice Classification — Combined

2000 United States Grand Prix opening-day practice, 22 September 2000

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	2	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:14.561	27
2	1	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	+0.134s	31
3	3	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.366s	53
4	4	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+0.583s	42
5	5	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Jordan	+0.665s	45
6	9	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+0.688s	36
7	6	Jarno Trulli	Jordan	+1.085s	42
8	10	Jenson Button	Williams	+1.180s	44
9	20	Marc Gene	Minardi	+1.245s	45
10	22	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+1.586s	49
11	12	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	+1.784s	43
12	7	Eddie Irvine	Jaguar	+1.985s	42
13	19	Jos Verstappen	Arrows	+2.011s	30
14	15	Nick Heidfeld	Prost	+2.065s	32
15	23	Ricardo Zonta	BAR	+2.095s	50
16	17	Mika Salo	Sauber	+2.099s	38
17	8	Johnny Herbert	Jaguar	+2.109s	42
18	18	Pedro de la Rosa	Arrows	+2.226s	42
19	16	Pedro Diniz	Sauber	+2.277s	47
20	21	Gaston Mazzacane	Minardi	+2.341s	41
21	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	+2.492s	23
22	14	Jean Alesi	Prost	+3.652s	15

Overnight rain left damp patches for Saturday’s first practice. Häkkinen led Jenson Button, but the slippery surface sent several drivers off the circuit. Conditions improved gradually, allowing the teams to assess how the infield and the faster outer section dried at different rates.

Michael Schumacher led a Ferrari one-two in final practice as the track continued to dry. Changing grip complicated the balance of the cars, and Schumacher himself ran off before continuing. Jenson Button again split the McLarens, while a loose piece of track marking required attention from a marshal.

Saturday Practice Classification — Combined

2000 United States Grand Prix Saturday practice, 23 September 2000

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	3	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:14.804	34
2	4	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+0.210s	32
3	2	David Coulthard	McLaren	+0.335s	35
4	10	Jenson Button	Williams	+0.349s	33
5	1	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	+0.489s	34
6	5	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Jordan	+0.595s	32
7	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	+0.822s	34
8	22	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+0.833s	30
9	9	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+0.934s	32
10	6	Jarno Trulli	Jordan	+1.273s	32
11	16	Pedro Diniz	Sauber	+1.365s	34
12	23	Ricardo Zonta	BAR	+1.376s	29
13	19	Jos Verstappen	Arrows	+1.456s	29
14	8	Johnny Herbert	Jaguar	+1.504s	28
15	15	Nick Heidfeld	Prost	+1.559s	36
16	12	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	+1.564s	34
17	18	Pedro de la Rosa	Arrows	+1.704s	33
18	17	Mika Salo	Sauber	+1.738s	34
19	21	Gaston Mazzacane	Minardi	+1.849s	33
20	7	Eddie Irvine	Jaguar	+1.858s	33
21	14	Jean Alesi	Prost	+2.296s	31
22	20	Marc Gene	Minardi	+2.513s	30

Each practice table combines that day’s two sessions, showing each driver’s best time and total laps.

Qualifying

Michael Schumacher took pole with a 1:14.266 after using Rubens Barrichello‘s slipstream on the long straight. McLaren also used teamwork to help David Coulthard secure second, ahead of Häkkinen. Rubens Barrichello completed the second row as the forecast heavy rain failed to arrive.

Jarno Trulli qualified fifth ahead of Jenson Button, whose runs were affected by a yellow flag and a later error. Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Jacques Villeneuve followed, while Pedro Diniz delivered a season-best ninth. Overnight changes moved the front-row grid positions back from the bricks and revised the pit-lane speed arrangements following drivers’ concerns.

Qualifying Classification

2000 United States Grand Prix Qualifying, 23 September 2000

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	3	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:14.266	12
2	2	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:14.392	12
3	1	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren	1:14.428	12
4	4	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	1:14.600	12
5	6	Jarno Trulli	Jordan	1:15.006	12
6	10	Jenson Button	Williams	1:15.017	12
7	5	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Jordan	1:15.067	11
8	22	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	1:15.317	10
9	16	Pedro Diniz	Sauber	1:15.418	12
10	9	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	1:15.484	11
11	12	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	1:15.762	10
12	23	Ricardo Zonta	BAR	1:15.784	12
13	19	Jos Verstappen	Arrows	1:15.808	12
14	17	Mika Salo	Sauber	1:15.881	12
15	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	1:15.907	12
16	15	Nick Heidfeld	Prost	1:16.060	12
17	7	Eddie Irvine	Jaguar	1:16.098	12
18	18	Pedro de la Rosa	Arrows	1:16.143	12
19	8	Johnny Herbert	Jaguar	1:16.225	12
20	14	Jean Alesi	Prost	1:16.471	11
21	21	Gastón Mazzacane	Minardi	1:16.809	11
22	20	Marc Gené	Minardi	1:17.161	11

Sunday warm-up

David Coulthard headed a damp warm-up after further overnight rain. Wet-weather tyres overheated on the banking and main straight, encouraging some teams to try dry tyres near the finish. Several drivers ran wide or spun as they judged the limited grip, an important warning before a race expected to begin on a drying track.

Warm-up Classification

2000 United States Grand Prix Warm-up, 24 September 2000

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	2	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:23.144	13
2	1	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	+0.562s	11
3	3	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.778s	11
4	22	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+0.868s	14
5	6	Jarno Trulli	Jordan	+0.894s	14
6	19	Jos Verstappen	Arrows	+0.975s	13
7	4	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+1.373s	12
8	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	+1.478s	13
9	18	Pedro de la Rosa	Arrows	+1.482s	14
10	10	Jenson Button	Williams	+1.531s	12
11	23	Ricardo Zonta	BAR	+1.548s	11
12	5	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Jordan	+1.575s	13
13	9	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+1.576s	12
14	7	Eddie Irvine	Jaguar	+1.621s	13
15	12	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	+1.991s	15
16	8	Johnny Herbert	Jaguar	+2.055s	11
17	20	Marc Gene	Minardi	+2.225s	11
18	14	Jean Alesi	Prost	+2.229s	8
19	15	Nick Heidfeld	Prost	+2.243s	14
20	21	Gaston Mazzacane	Minardi	+2.687s	11
21	16	Pedro Diniz	Sauber	+2.982s	13
22	17	Mika Salo	Sauber	+3.954s	7

What happened in the 2000 United States Grand Prix?

David Coulthard jumped the start and led initially, but Schumacher passed him before the McLaren driver served a stop-go penalty. Most runners began on intermediate tyres, and the timing of the switch to dry rubber proved crucial. Schumacher stayed out longer than Häkkinen and emerged with a substantial lead.

Häkkinen cut the gap rapidly once his tyres were working, only for engine failure to end his challenge. Schumacher was then able to control the race despite a late spin. Rubens Barrichello recovered from an awkward early stint to take second, securing a valuable Ferrari one-two.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen resisted Jacques Villeneuve for third, with David Coulthard recovering to fifth and Ricardo Zonta scoring in sixth. Schumacher left Indianapolis eight points ahead of Häkkinen with two races remaining. Ferrari also moved back into the constructors’ championship lead, turning an already important victory into a major step towards both titles.

After the race, Michael Schumacher headed the drivers’ standings with 88 points, followed by Mika Häkkinen on 80. Ferrari led the constructors’ table on 143, with McLaren on 133.

2000 United States Grand Prix race results

The 2000 United States Grand Prix was held on 24 September 2000, with a scheduled start of 13:00 local time.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	3	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	73	1:36:30.883	10
2	4	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	73	+12.118	6
3	5	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Jordan	73	+17.368	4
4	22	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	73	+17.936	3
5	2	David Coulthard	McLaren	73	+28.813	2
6	23	Ricardo Zonta	BAR	73	+51.694	1
7	7	Eddie Irvine	Jaguar	73	+1:11.115	0
8	16	Pedro Diniz	Sauber	72	+1 lap	0
9	15	Nick Heidfeld	Prost	72	+1 lap	0
10	12	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	72	+1 lap	0
11	8	Johnny Herbert	Jaguar	72	+1 lap	0
12	20	Marc Gené	Minardi	72	+1 lap	0
Ret	14	Jean Alesi	Prost	64	Engine	0
Ret	21	Gastón Mazzacane	Minardi	59	Engine	0
Ret	9	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	58	Engine	0
Ret	18	Pedro de la Rosa	Arrows	45	Gearbox	0
Ret	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	44	Engine	0
Ret	19	Jos Verstappen	Arrows	34	Brakes	0
Ret	1	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren	25	Engine	0
Ret	17	Mika Salo	Sauber	18	Spun off	0
Ret	10	Jenson Button	Williams	14	Engine	0
Ret	6	Jarno Trulli	Jordan	12	Collision	0

2000 United States Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time	Avg. Speed
1	2	David Coulthard	McLaren	40	1:14.711	201.994
2	4	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	51	1:14.822	201.694
3	3	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	48	1:14.901	201.481
4	22	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	68	1:15.117	200.902
5	16	Pedro Diniz	Sauber	69	1:15.305	200.401
6	5	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Jordan	69	1:15.521	199.827
7	12	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	70	1:15.560	199.724
8	9	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	55	1:15.598	199.624
9	7	Eddie Irvine	Jaguar	72	1:15.675	199.421
10	1	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	25	1:15.773	199.163
11	23	Ricardo Zonta	BAR	48	1:15.812	199.060
12	8	Johnny Herbert	Jaguar	69	1:15.812	199.060
13	20	Marc Gene	Minardi	72	1:16.044	198.453
14	15	Nick Heidfeld	Prost	72	1:16.074	198.375
15	14	Jean Alesi	Prost	44	1:16.124	198.244
16	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	42	1:16.234	197.958
17	19	Jos Verstappen	Arrows	34	1:16.252	197.912
18	18	Pedro de la Rosa	Arrows	36	1:16.276	197.849
19	21	Gaston Mazzacane	Minardi	41	1:16.711	196.727
20	17	Mika Salo	Sauber	18	1:20.244	188.066
21	10	Jenson Button	Williams	12	1:22.977	181.872
22	6	Jarno Trulli	Jordan	4	1:24.770	178.025

Only drivers with a recorded lap time appear. Average speeds are in km/h. No fastest-lap bonus point was awarded.

2000 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings

Championship standings after the 2000 United States Grand Prix.

2000 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Michael Schumacher	German	Ferrari	88
2	Mika Häkkinen	Finnish	McLaren	80
3	David Coulthard	British	McLaren	63
4	Rubens Barrichello	Brazilian	Ferrari	55
5	Ralf Schumacher	German	Williams	24
6	Giancarlo Fisichella	Italian	Benetton	18
7	Jacques Villeneuve	Canadian	BAR	14
8	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	German	Jordan	11
9	Jenson Button	British	Williams	10
10	Jarno Trulli	Italian	Jordan	6
11	Mika Salo	Finnish	Sauber	6
12	Jos Verstappen	Dutch	Arrows	5
13	Eddie Irvine	British	Jaguar	3
14	Ricardo Zonta	Brazilian	BAR	3
15	Alexander Wurz	Austrian	Benetton	2
16	Pedro de la Rosa	Spanish	Arrows	2
–	Pedro Diniz	Brazilian	Sauber	0
–	Johnny Herbert	British	Jaguar	0
–	Marc Gené	Spanish	Minardi	0
–	Nick Heidfeld	German	Prost	0
–	Gastón Mazzacane	Argentine	Minardi	0
–	Jean Alesi	French	Prost	0
–	Luciano Burti	Brazilian	Jaguar	0

2000 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	Ferrari	143
2	McLaren	133
3	Williams	34
4	Benetton	20
5	Jordan	17
6	BAR	17
7	Arrows	7
8	Sauber	6
9	Jaguar	3
10	Minardi	0
11	Prost	0

2000 Formula 1 Race Calendar

Round	Grand Prix	Circuit	Date
1	2000 Australian Grand Prix	Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne	12 March
2	2000 Brazilian Grand Prix	Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo	26 March
3	2000 San Marino Grand Prix	Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola	9 April
4	2000 British Grand Prix	Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone	23 April
5	2000 Spanish Grand Prix	Circuit de Catalunya, Montmeló	7 May
6	2000 European Grand Prix	Nürburgring, Nürburg	21 May
7	2000 Monaco Grand Prix	Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo	4 June
8	2000 Canadian Grand Prix	Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Montréal	18 June
9	2000 French Grand Prix	Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny-Cours	2 July
10	2000 Austrian Grand Prix	A1-Ring, Spielberg	16 July
11	2000 German Grand Prix	Hockenheimring, Hockenheim	30 July
12	2000 Hungarian Grand Prix	Hungaroring, Mogyoród	13 August
13	2000 Belgian Grand Prix	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot	27 August
14	2000 Italian Grand Prix	Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza	10 September
15	2000 United States Grand Prix	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis	24 September
16	2000 Japanese Grand Prix	Suzuka International Racing Course, Suzuka	8 October
17	2000 Malaysian Grand Prix	Sepang International Circuit, Sepang	22 October