It was a processional start to the race. Villeneuve had gearbox problems and didn't get away from the grid, letting Rubens move up one place. Hakkinen took the early lead and began to pull away from Coulthard with Schumacher just behind then a small gap to Irvine and another gap to Barrichello. But Hakkinen got a bit too daring and while about 12s in the lead took a bit much curve coming out of the last corner and lost the back end, he overcorrected and went into the wall on the straight.

The next excitement was Schumachers stop, he came in from right behind Coulthard and made a stop of only 6.9s coming out still in second place. Coulthard drove hard for the next four laps before making his stop but Schumacher on fresh rubber was going quicker and the lead of 18s wasn't enough for DC to come in and rejoin in the lead. Michael pulled away and made a second stop later while David didn't.

Rubens was running in the top six and when Irvine's engine blew while running third Rubens moved up to fourth having stopped twice just 11s behind Damon Hill. With Hill's second stop Rubens moved up to a podium position and although Hill closed right up in the closing laps he didn't attempt to pass.

Johnny Herbert had been running an apparently uneventful race given the amount of coverage he had on the TV. And when Irvine went out Frentzen spun off on his oil-slick putting Johnny up into a points position, he looked good for two points when his engine blew in a way only a Ford can with plumes of white smoke. This was bad news for Alex Zanardi who was just a couple of seconds behind Johnny on the track and spun off into the gravel.

At the finish Michael Schumacher took the chequered flag with Rubens right behind to finish third, then Damon Hill was following close behind and second placed David Coulthard right on the gearbox of Hill.

Rubens dedicated his podium to his hero Ayrton Senna who died at Imola five years ago this weekend.
Race Result

Johnny Herbert only managed 12th, he had been running on pace with Rubens in the morning practice sessions as the Stewarts were fifth and sixth quickest but couldn't manage the seem in the afternoon qualifying session.
Qualifying Times

A mixed day for Stewart. Rubens was fifth fastest after the first session but could only improve his time marginally and dropped to ninth fastest over the day. Johnny was around a second slower than Rubens in the first session and didn't improve his time in the second finishing the day with the 18th placed time.
Practice Times