were Michael Schumacher, Coulthard, Villeneuve, Barrichello, Häkkinen, and Frentzen. Coulthard set a fastest lap of the race, a 1:21.335 on lap two as he gained on Michael Schumacher. De la Rosa claimed sixth position from Frentzen at the hairpin on the same lap. He was unable to close up to Häkkinen due to the horsepower disadvantage provided by his engine. Michael Schumacher started to trade fastest laps with Coulthard on lap four as Villeneuve maintained third but was holding up the drivers in the next three positions behind him. This saw Michael Schumacher quickly pull clear from Villeneuve as Barrichello and Häkkinen could not overcome Villeneuve's straight line speed. Button's engine began to cut out at maximum revolutions due to a fuel pick-up issue, as Fisichella was passed by Verstappen for tenth on the same lap. As Michael Schumacher and Coulthard continued their battle up front, the stewards informed the McLaren team on lap ten that Coulthard would serve a ten-second stop-go penalty as his mechanics had worked on his car 15 seconds before the formation lap begun. On the 13th lap, Ralf Schumacher overtook Herbert to take 12th position. Coulthard took his penalty on lap 14 and rejoined in tenth place. Herbert entered the pit lane with an gearbox issue on lap 15 and became the race's first retirement. Häkkinen unsuccessfully attempted to pass Barrichello on the front straight on lap 17. As the skies began to darken and rain showers about to arrive, De la Rosa became the first of the two stopping drivers to make a pit stop on lap 20. He reemerged in 15th position. Michael Schumacher had extended his lead over Villeneuve to 22 seconds by the 22nd lap, who in turn continued to contest Barrichello and Häkkinen for second. Frentzen was a further 1.9 seconds behind the trio ahead of him. Coulthard, meanwhile, was lapping one second slower than the race leader. Light rain began to fall on lap 23 and the circuit started to become slippery, slowing Michael Schumacher's lap times by two seconds for two laps. Trulli passed Zonta for sixth place one lap later. Coulthard spun after he ran on oil dropped from Verstappen's car at turn 12 and lost three positions. Villeneuve lost second position when he was overtaken by Barrichello on lap 25 following a short battle and the Brazilian started to gradually close the gap to Michael Schumacher.