2000 Australian Grand Prix
| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 1 of 17 in the 2000 Formula One season | |||
Albert Park Circuit
|
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| Date | 12 March 2000 | ||
| Official name | LXV Qantas Australian Grand Prix | ||
| Location | Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia | ||
| Course | Temporary street circuit | ||
| Course length | 5.303 km (3.295 mi) | ||
| Distance | 58 laps, 307.574 km (191.118 mi) | ||
| Weather | Sunny, Air Temp: 20°C | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | McLaren-Mercedes | ||
| Time | 1:30.556 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver |
 Rubens Barrichello
|
Ferrari | |
| Time | 1:31.481 on lap 41 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Ferrari | ||
| Second | Ferrari | ||
| Third | Williams-BMW | ||
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The 2000 Australian Grand Prix (officially known as the LXV Qantas Australian Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race held on 12 March 2000 at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne. It was the first race of the 2000 Formula One season. The 58-lap race was won by Michael Schumacher for the Ferrari team after starting from third position. Schumacher's new teammate for the 2000 season, Rubens Barrichello finished second in the other Ferrari, with Ralf Schumacher third for BMW-Williams.
Mika Häkkinen started on pole position in a McLaren, with teammate David Coulthard alongside him, but both retired with pneumatic valve failures. Three drivers made their Grand Prix debut: future world champion Jenson Button in a BMW-Williams, Nick Heidfeld in a Prost and Gastón Mazzacane in a Minardi. Mazzacane and Button retired from their debut race, and Heidfeld finished ninth, two laps behind.
Heading into the first race of the 2000 Formula One season, many were tipping Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher and 1999 Drivers' Champion, McLaren's Mika Häkkinen as the main contenders to win the 2000 Drivers' Championship. Schumacher was favourite to win the Championship according to the bookmakers and by some former Formula One drivers, including Schumacher's teammate from the 1999 season, and new Jaguar driver Eddie Irvine. The last Drivers' Champion for Ferrari, Jody Scheckter, who did so in the 1979 season, also tipped Schumacher to win the Championship.
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