[3] However, as a result of Frentzen finishing second, Williams clinched the Constructors' Championship as Ferrari could not pass their points total with only one race remaining.

Jos Verstappen in a Tyrrell car pulled over to the side of the track with a fuel pick-up problem.

[5] On the Thursday before practice, the local driver Ukyo Katayama announced his retirement from the category after the next race.

At the final of the first lap, the order was Villeneuve, Michael Schumacher, Hakkinen, Irvine, Frentzen and Berger.

Running light on fuel, Irvine started an aggressive climbing of the grid, storming to the lead on lap 3.

The Canadian exited the pits just in front of Schumacher, however, with warmer tires, the German stormed to the main straight, dived inside and passed Villeneuve for good.

On lap 23, after all the frontrunners had pitted, the order was Irvine, Schumacher, Villeneuve, Frentzen, Hakkinen and Alesi.

The strategy worked perfectly and Villeneuve anticipated his second pit to try to leave the traffic and undercut Irvine.

Frentzen eventually charged back and reduced the gap to 5 seconds by lap 45, meanwhile Villeneuve passed Alesi for 5th.

This meant the gap from him to Frentzen to reduce to one second on final stages, but Schumacher cleaned his way and keep the lead until the chequered flag.