2000 Japanese Grand Prix
| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 16 of 17 in the 2000 Formula One season | |||
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| Date | 8 October 2000 | ||
| Official name | XXVI Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix | ||
| Location | Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Mie, Japan | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 5.859 km (3.641 mi) | ||
| Distance | 53 laps, 310.527 km (192.953 mi) | ||
| Weather | Dry/Wet | ||
| Attendance | 151,000 | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Ferrari | ||
| Time | 1:35.825 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver |
 Mika Häkkinen
|
McLaren-Mercedes | |
| Time | 1:39.189 on lap 26 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Ferrari | ||
| Second | McLaren-Mercedes | ||
| Third | McLaren-Mercedes | ||
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The 2000 Japanese Grand Prix (formally the XXVI Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race held on 8 October 2000 at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan. It was the 16th and penultimate round of the 2000 Formula One season, as well as, the 26th Japanese Grand Prix. The 53-lap race was won by Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher after starting from pole position. Mika Häkkinen finished second in a McLaren with teammate David Coulthard finishing third. Schumacher's win confirmed him as 2000 Drivers' Champion, as Häkkinen could not surpass Schumacher's points total with only one race remaining.
Häkkinen started the race alongside Michael Schumacher on the front row of the grid. Michael Schumacher attempted to defend his lead off the line by moving into Häkkinen's path, but Häkkinen passed Michael Schumacher heading into the first corner, with Coulthard withstanding Williams driver Ralf Schumacher attempts to pass him to maintain third position. Michael Schumacher managed to close the gap to his title rival by lap 31 and passed Häkkinen during the second round of pit stops. This allowed him to maintain a 1.9 second gap between himself and Häkkinen towards the end of the race to secure his eighth victory of the season.
Michael Schumacher received praise from many within the Formula One community, including former Champion Jody Scheckter and Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, though he was criticised by former Italian president Francesco Cossiga for his conduct when the Italian National Anthem was played on the podium. The Ferrari driver also received predominant congratulations from the European press. Häkkinen's second-place finish secured him second position in the Drivers' Championship, while Ferrari extended the gap to McLaren in the Constructors' Championship to thirteen points, with one race remaining in the season.
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