1998 Recap



1998 TEAMS RESULTS	1998 went down in my book as an exciting year for the FIA World Cup Championship. I suppose being a Ferrari fan might have had a bit to do with my view of the season. I did not think that was to be the case early in the season however. McLaren ran away with the first five of six races. Ferrari then seemed to find their stride and won the next three races. Ferrari and McLaren split the next four races, the Championship appeared to be wide open, then came Spa... A wet start saw Coulthard's McLaren shoot across the track twice leaving the first turn strewn with debris and four drivers left without a spare to re-start the race. At the second start, Verstappen had contact with Hakkinen removing the points leader from the race. The way looked clear for Schumacher to all but even the race for the Cup. As was the case a number of times in 1998 the marshalling was called into question. About lap 19 it was noticed that Coulthard's' rain light was not working. Yet, for some reason, he was not black-flagged. On to lap 25, Schumacher was leading the field by the better part of a minute. McLaren, in [what appeared to be] a very sporting move, told Coulthard to move over and let Schumacher pass. Coulthard slowed to half race speed on the racing line at the exit of a turn. Schumacher, running at full speed, fortunately swerved in time to avoid a head on collision yet in a blink of an eye his right front tire and the possibility of victory vanished. Jordan went on to take first and second (Hill, R Schumacher). Ferrari came back in two weeks with a one/two finish at Monza. McLaren won Luxembourg and the Drivers Championship would be determined at the last race of the season in Japan. The third start at Suzuka saw Schumacher starting from the back of the grid after stalling-out the second start. Just past half way Schumacher, using driving skill and pit strategy, has climbed to with-in seconds of Hakkinen. Tuero and Takagi, on lap 30, collide. Schumacher, on lap 31, flies through the debris left on the track and suffers a puncture. Hakkinen and McLaren win the Drivers and Constructors cups. The MP4-13 was a fantastic car and McLaren having suffered reliability problems mid-way through the season did a good job of recovering to win. Possibly Michael Schumacher has had his karma cleared and can lead Ferrari to it's first World Cup since 1983. Well... here's to 1999 and (hopefully) another exciting year for the FIA F1 World Cup. Finally, no recap of 1998 can end without a "Thanks and fair well" to Ken Tyrrell, Goodyear and the Tyrrell inspired "X Wings".

1998
TEAMS RESULTS

1998 went down in my book as an exciting year for the FIA World Cup Championship. I suppose being a Ferrari fan might have had a bit to do with my view of the season.

I did not think that was to be the case early in the season however. McLaren ran away with the first five of six races. Ferrari then seemed to find their stride and won the next three races. Ferrari and McLaren split the next four races, the Championship appeared to be wide open, then came Spa...

A wet start saw Coulthard's McLaren shoot across the track twice leaving the first turn strewn with DC Debris debris and four drivers left without a spare to re-start the race. At the second start, Verstappen had contact with Hakkinen removing the points leader from the race. The way looked clear for Schumacher to all but even the race for the Cup. As was the case a number of times in 1998 the marshalling was called into question. About lap 19 it was noticed that Coulthard's' rain light was not working. Yet, for some reason, he was not black-flagged. On to lap 25, Schumacher was leading the field by the better part of a minute. McLaren, in [what appeared to be] a very sporting move, told Coulthard to move over and let Schumacher pass. Coulthard slowed to half race speed on the racing line at the exit of a turn. Schumacher, running at full speed, fortunately swerved in time to avoid a head on collision yet in a blink of an eye his right front tire and the possibility of victory vanished. Jordan went on to take first and second (Hill, R Schumacher).

Ferrari came back in two weeks with a one/two finish at Monza. McLaren won Luxembourg and the Drivers Championship would be determined at the last race of the season in Japan.

The third start at Suzuka saw Schumacher starting from the back of the grid after Schumacher on lap 38 stalling-out the second start. Just past half way Schumacher, using driving skill and pit strategy, has climbed to with-in seconds of Hakkinen. Tuero and Takagi, on lap 30, collide. Schumacher, on lap 31, flies through the debris left on the track and suffers a puncture. Hakkinen and McLaren win the Drivers and Constructors cups. The MP4-13 was a fantastic car and McLaren having suffered reliability problems mid-way through the season did a good job of recovering to win.

Possibly Michael Schumacher has had his karma cleared and can lead Ferrari to it's Eddie @ Imola first World Cup since 1983. Well... here's to 1999 and (hopefully) another exciting year for the FIA F1 World Cup. Finally, no recap of 1998 can end without a "Thanks and fair well" to Ken Tyrrell, Goodyear and the Tyrrell inspired "X Wings".