1996 Japanese Grand Prix
| 1996 Japan Grand Prix | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 16 of 16 in the 1996 Formula One World Championship | |||
 | |||
| Race details | |||
| Date | October 13, 1996 | ||
| Official name | XXII Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix | ||
| Location | Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Mie Prefecture, Japan | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 5.864 km (3.608 miles) | ||
| Distance | 52 laps, 304.928 km (189.473 miles) | ||
| Weather | Sunny, mild and Dry | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Williams-Renault | ||
| Time | 1:38.909 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver |
 Jacques Villeneuve | Williams-Renault | |
| Time | 1:44.043 on lap 34 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Williams-Renault | ||
| Second | Ferrari | ||
| Third | McLaren-Mercedes | ||
The 1996 Japanese Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on October 13, 1996 at Suzuka. Jacques Villeneuve's retirement ended his small chance of the title, handing it to Damon Hill. Hill needed to finish 6th or higher to win the title, while Villeneuve could have only take the title if he had won the race and Hill finished outside the points.
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.[1]
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.[1]
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.
Classification
Qualifying
Race
Standings after Grand Prix
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- Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.
References
- ^ a b "F1 News - Grandprix.com > GP Encyclopedia > Races > Japanese GP, 1996". Grandprix.com. Retrieved 2011-04-05.