The 1998 Canadian Grand Prix got off to a chaotic start, following contact at the first corner.
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve hosted round seven of the 1998 season, with McLaren's David Coulthard lining up on pole position.
The 69-lap race kicked off in dramatic style. Coulthard led the field away from the grid, with Michael Schumacher displacing Mika Hakkinen for second place.
The top six drivers made it through the first corner safely but it was chaos behind. Benetton's Alexander Wurz locked up as he attempted to make up ground and took to the grass, colliding with Jean Alesi, Johnny Herbert and Jarno Trulli.
His car was pitched into a scary barrel-roll, but fortunately all drivers involved emerged from the accident unscathed. Due to the damaged cars littering the Turn 1 gravel trap, the race was red flagged. All four drivers were able to make the second start.
Coulthard retained the lead into the first corner once again, but Schumacher fell behind Fisichella and Hakkinen dropped back with a gearbox issue. Ralf Schumacher locked up and (like Wurz did) went across the grass, spinning and bunching up the field.
Trulli made contact with Wurz, before hitting Alesi. His Prost car was launched on top of Alesi's Sauber, taking both drivers out of the race. The Safety Car was deployed whilst the track was cleared, with Coulthard leading Schumacher - who had passed Fisichella on lap one.
The top two quickly pulled away from the chasing pack, but they lost their advantage when the Safety Car re-appeared. Pedro Diniz went off track and threw grass and dirt onto the circuit. Once it was removed, the race resumed, but Coulthard quickly retired with a transmission problem.
Following another pause in the racing action due to a crash between Herbert and Mika Salo. Schumacher made a pit stop and shot across the track when he returned, moving right into the path of Heinz-Harald Frenzten. The Williams driver was sent off track and into the wall.
Fisichella led Jacques Villeneuve on the restart, but the Canadian damaged his rear wing when he went off trying to pass the race leader. Schumacher was handed a 10-second stop/go penalty for the incident with Frenzten and dropped behind Damon Hill, but only momentarily.
Schumacher overtook him on lap 38 and took the lead on the 45th tour, pulling out a considerable advantage. He was able to pit for a second time and emerge still in the lead. The German went on to win the Canadian Grand Prix by 16 seconds from Fisichella, Eddie Irvine, Wurz, Rubens Barrichello and Jan Magnussen.
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The 69-lap race kicked off in dramatic style. Coulthard led the field away from the grid, with Michael Schumacher displacing Mika Hakkinen for second place.
The top six drivers made it through the first corner safely but it was chaos behind. Benetton's Alexander Wurz locked up as he attempted to make up ground and took to the grass, colliding with Jean Alesi, Johnny Herbert and Jarno Trulli.
His car was pitched into a scary barrel-roll, but fortunately all drivers involved emerged from the accident unscathed. Due to the damaged cars littering the Turn 1 gravel trap, the race was red flagged. All four drivers were able to make the second start.
Coulthard retained the lead into the first corner once again, but Schumacher fell behind Fisichella and Hakkinen dropped back with a gearbox issue. Ralf Schumacher locked up and (like Wurz did) went across the grass, spinning and bunching up the field.
The top two quickly pulled away from the chasing pack, but they lost their advantage when the Safety Car re-appeared. Pedro Diniz went off track and threw grass and dirt onto the circuit. Once it was removed, the race resumed, but Coulthard quickly retired with a transmission problem.
Following another pause in the racing action due to a crash between Herbert and Mika Salo. Schumacher made a pit stop and shot across the track when he returned, moving right into the path of Heinz-Harald Frenzten. The Williams driver was sent off track and into the wall.
Fisichella led Jacques Villeneuve on the restart, but the Canadian damaged his rear wing when he went off trying to pass the race leader. Schumacher was handed a 10-second stop/go penalty for the incident with Frenzten and dropped behind Damon Hill, but only momentarily.
Schumacher overtook him on lap 38 and took the lead on the 45th tour, pulling out a considerable advantage. He was able to pit for a second time and emerge still in the lead. The German went on to win the Canadian Grand Prix by 16 seconds from Fisichella, Eddie Irvine, Wurz, Rubens Barrichello and Jan Magnussen.
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