Hakkinen wins against the odds

(27-Sep-98) - Mika Hakkinen has won today's Luxembourg Grand Prix to give
himself a four-point lead over Michael Schumacher in the driver's
Championship.

Schumacher finished second, a mere 2.2 seconds adrift of the McLaren after
losing the lead he held after starting from pole position at the first
round of pit stops.

The second McLaren of David Coulthard finished third, giving the Woking
based team a virtual certain win in the Constructors' Championship needing
to score only a single point in the final round in Japan in five weeks.

The result left neither championship decided but certainly left McLaren and
Mika Hakkinen with the advantage. If Schumacher wins in Japan and Hakkinen
finished second, the Finn will still take the title as the points score
would be equal, the race wins would be equal and Hakkinen would have three
second place finishes to Schumacher's two.

The start of the race saw the two Ferraris pull away from the grid to
maintain their dominance. It was Irvine though who took the lead.
Schumacher soon passed his team-mate to pull out an eight second lead over
Mika Hakkinen before the Finn found a way past Irvine.

Schumacher's lead was soon reduced as Hakkinen picked up the pace.
Schumacher made the first pit stop and a lap later McLaren reacted.
Hakkinen cameout metres ahead of the Ferrari to take the lead.

Despite a hard charging Schumacher maintaining station right behind the
McLaren for most of the second stint, the McLaren's Bridgestone tyres
appeared to be holding up better than the Ferrari's Goodyears.

After a superb second stop from Schumacher it seemed likely that the
Ferrari would maintain the lead after Hakkinen's second stop. However, a
lightening quick stop from McLaren maintained Hakkinen's advantage.

--- Msged/386 4.20 beta 4