Menagerie F1 : 1998 Argentine Grand Prix

David Coulthard	McLaren-Mercedes BS	1m 25.852s
Michael Schumacher	Ferrari GY	1m 26.251s
Mika Hakkinen	McLaren-Mercedes BS	1m 26.632s
Eddie Irvine	Ferrari GY	1m 26.780s
Ralf Schumacher	Jordan-Mugen Honda GY	1m 26.827s
Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Williams-Mecachrome GY	1m 26.876s
Jacques Villeneuve	Williams-Mecachrome GY	1m 26.941s
Alexander Wurz	Benetton-Playlife BS	1m 27.198s
Damon Hill	Jordan-Mugen Honda GY	1m 27.483s
Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton-Playlife BS	1m 27.836s
Jean Alesi	Sauber-Petronas BS	1m 27.839s
Johnny Herbert	Sauber-Petronas GY	1m 28.016s
Tora Takagi	Tyrrell-Ford GY	1m 28.811s
Rubens Barrichello	Stewart-Ford BS	1m 29.249s
Olivier Panis	Prost-Peugeot BS	1m 29.320s
Jarno Trulli	Prost-Peugeot BS	1m 29.352s
Mika Salo	TWR Arrows BS	1m 29.617s
Pedro Diniz	TWR Arrows BS	1m 30.022s
Shinji Nakano	Minardi-Ford BS	1m 30.054s
Esteban Tuero	Minardi-Ford BS	1m 30.158s
Ricardo Rosset	Tyrrell-Ford GY	1m 30.437s
Jan Magnussen	Stewart-Ford BS	1m 31.178s

Fastest Lap :
Alexander Wurz (Benetton) 1m 28.179s
Lap Record : 1997: Gerhard Berger (Benetton) 1m 28.000s

Analysis :
As as we know there has never been a NASCAR race in Buenos Aires, but Formula One did it's best impression of the Alabama Gang in one of the most entertaining races in recent memory. Michael Schumacher (playing the part of Dale "The Intimidator" Earnhardt) barged his way past pole sitter David Coulthard to take a comfortable win over Mika Hakinnen, who never really got it together all weekend. Schumacher was even able to make a detour through a gravel trap in the closing laps without relinquishing the lead.
There was plenty of wheel banging going on further down the field, with Alexander Wurz having a great duel with Eddie Irvine. As the track got slick in the last few laps, Wurz made his only mistake of the race and the spin cost him third place. Coulthard meanwhile had a very eventful time, colliding with Jacques Villeneuve and taking at least two unscheduled trips through the grass.
Once again putting in a solid showing was Jean Alesi in the Sauber, the Frenchman is beginning to settle in with the Swiss team and may prove a serious threat later in the season. Damon Hill qualified in a better position but was unable to translate it into points, while teammate Ralf Schumacher was simply happy to finish the first lap!
Once again the Prost cars were in the also-ran category, the radical gearbox design proving far too fragile for competitive use, while Tora Takagi in the Tyrrell continues to surprise with solid qualifying performances. Given a little more race experience, the Japanese driver could well take some points.

With the McLaren-Mercedes stragglehold broken we can look forward to a much more competitive season and no doubt more appearances on the top step for Micheal Schumacher. The coveted Constructors Championship needs two winning drivers, the question now is whether Eddie Irvine can do it too?

	1998 Argentine Grand Prix
Buenos Aires 2.65 miles April 12th 1998

Michael Schumacher	Ferrari GY	1h 48m 36.175s
Mika Hakkinen	McLaren-Mercedes BS	1h 48m 59.074s
Eddie Irvine	Ferrari GY	1h 49m 33.920s
Alexander Wurz	Benetton-Playlife BS	1h 49m 44.309s
Jean Alesi	Sauber-Petronas GY	1h 49m 54.461s
David Coulthard	McLaren-Mercedes BS	1h 49m 55.926s

Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton-Playlife BS	1h 50m 04.613s
Damon Hill	Jordan-Mugen Honda GY	1 lap down
Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Williams-Mecachrome GY	1 lap down
Rubens Barrichello	Stewart-Ford BS	2 laps down
Jarno Trulli	Prost-Peugeot BS	2 laps down
Tora Takagi	Tyrrell-Ford GY	2 laps down
Shinji Nakano	Minardi-Ford BS	3 laps down
Ricardo Rosset	Tyrrell-Ford GY	4 laps down
Olivier Panis	Prost-Peugeot BS	7 laps down
Esteban Tuero	Minardi-Ford BS	63 laps - spun off
Jacques Villeneuve	Williams-Mecachrome GY	55 laps - collision with Coulthard
Johnny Herbert	Sauber-Petronas GY	49 laps - blown tyre
Ralf Schumacher	Jordan-Mugen Honda GY	22 laps - spun off
Mika Salo	TWR Arrows BS	18 laps - gearbox
Jan Magnussen	Stewart-Ford BS	17 laps - gearbox
Pedro Diniz	TWR Arrows BS	13 laps - gearbox