Race
The 1996 Japanese Grand Prix saw Japan host the final round of the world championship for the first time since 1977, a distinction which had previously been held by the Australian Grand Prix at Adelaide for quite a few past seasons.
Championship contenders Jacques Villeneuve and Damon Hill qualified in first and second position respectively on the grid for the Williams team, with Hill 0.7 seconds clear of Ferrari's Michael Schumacher. Although pole position at Suzuka is on the left, a rainstorm could wash away the rubber on the track and negate the pole sitter's advantage, giving the second-place qualifier the advantage.
In the race, Villeneuve made a poor start and was passed by Hill, Gerhard Berger, Mika Häkkinen, Schumacher and Eddie Irvine. Despite an overtaking attempt by Berger that resulted in Berger damaging his own front wing on the curb at the final chicane, Hill gradually pulled away into a small lead to win the race from Schumacher and Häkkinen. Villeneuve passed Irvine and set the fastest lap of the race before the right rear wheel of his car came off on lap 37, putting him out of the race. The result gave Hill, already dropped by the Williams team for the following season, the world championship by 19 points from his team mate. Jordan Grand Prix driver Martin Brundle finished his last race in Formula One in 5th place. Another notable incident was the spectacular retirement of Jean Alesi at the start of the race, as his attempt to jump to into the top three from ninth on the grid saw him slide straight into the crash barrier, smashing his car to pieces.
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Famous quotes containing the word race:
“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.”
—C.S. (Clive Staples)
“The great want of our race is perfect educators to train new-born minds, who are infallible teachers of what is right and true.”
—Catherine E. Beecher (1800–1878)
“All people who have reached the point of becoming nations tend to despise foreigners, but there is not much doubt that the English-speaking races are the worst offenders. One can see this from the fact that as soon as they become fully aware of any foreign race they invent an insulting nickname for it.”
—George Orwell (1903–1950)