Menagerie F1 : 1998 French Grand Prix

Mika Hakkinen	McLaren-Mercedes BS	1m 14.929s
Michael Schumacher	Ferrari GY	1m 15.159s
David Coulthard	McLaren-Mercedes BS	1m 15.333s
Eddie Irvine	Ferrari GY	1m 15.527s
Jacques Villeneuve	Williams-Mecachrome GY	1m 15.630s
Ralf Schumacher	Jordan-Mugen Honda GY	1m 15.925s
Damon Hill	Jordan-Mugen Honda GY	1m 16.245s
Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Williams-Mecachrome GY	1m 16.319s
Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton-Playlife BS	1m 16.375s
Alexander Wurz	Benetton-Playlife BS	1m 16.460s
Jean Alesi	Sauber-Petronas BS	1m 16.627s
Jarno Trulli	Prost-Peugeot BS	1m 16.892s
Johnny Herbert	Sauber-Petronas GY	1m 16.977s
Rubens Barrichello	Stewart-Ford BS	1m 17.024s
Jos Verstappen	Stewart-Ford BS	1m 17.604s
Olivier Panis	Prost-Peugeot BS	1m 17.671s
Pedro Diniz	TWR Arrows BS	1m 17.880s
Ricardo Rosset	Tyrrell-Ford GY	1m 17.908s
Mika Salo	TWR Arrows BS	1m 17.970s
Tora Takagi	Tyrrell-Ford GY	1m 18.221s
Shinji Nakano	Minardi-Ford BS	1m 18.273s
Esteban Tuero	Minardi-Ford BS	1m 19.146s
107 % rule time:	1m 20.174s

Fastest Lap :
David Coulthard (McLaren) 1m 17.523s
Lap Record : 1992: Nigel Mansell (Williams) 1m 17.070s

Analysis :
Thanks to a sticky Stewart gearbox and an overzealous official controlling the start Michael Schumacher got a second chance and he, along with Ferrari teammate Eddie Irvine made the most of it.
After having a wonderful first start nullified, polesitter Mika Hakinnen was beaten to the first corner by both Ferrari's and could do little about them on a track infamous for its' lack of overtaking opportunites.
Once again David Coulthard's luck ran out, as a major problem with the refuelling rig caused him to lose over 2 minutes in the pits, while Jacques Villeneuve was happy just to finish on the lead lap (all be it over a minute behind Schumacher...).
After showing some early pace, both Jordan's dropped out of contention. First Damon Hill dropped out, then Ralf Schumacher spent several laps in the pits after colliding with Alexander Wurz, who continued on to fifth.
The rest of the race was pretty pedestrian, with little in the way of attrition - not counting yet another exploding Ford behind Tora Takagi. It only provided more ammunition in the fight to move the race back to Paul Ricard.

The first Ferrari one-two in many years and maybe not the last this season. They have closed the gap on McLaren, but now they have to overtake them.
Just like overtaking at Magny-Cours, it's easier said than done...

	1998 French Grand Prix
Circuit de Nevers Magny Cours 2.64 miles June 28th 1998

Michael Schumacher	Ferrari GY	1h 34m 45.026s
Eddie Irvine	Ferrari GY	1h 35m 04.601s
Mika Hakkinen	McLaren-Mercedes BS	1h 35m 04.773s
Jacques Villeneuve	Williams-Mecachrome GY	1h 35m 51.991s
Alexander Wurz	Benetton-Playlife BS	1 lap down
David Coulthard	McLaren-Mercedes BS	1 lap down