and the track started to become slippery. The gap between Häkkinen and Michael Schumacher fell by one second after the McLaren driver was slowed by traffic on the same lap. Lap times slowed from then on due to the track becoming slippery. Ralf Schumacher lost sixth to teammate Button after making an error on the same lap, while Frentzen pulled off the track at the entry of First Curve to retire with a hydraulic pump issue which caused his gearbox to fail. Michael Schumacher closed to 0.7 seconds behind Häkkinen by lap 31, although he narrowly avoided hitting Zonta who went off the racing line to allow Schumacher to lap him on the entry to the chicane two laps later. Further back, Heidfeld overtook Trulli for 13th on lap 34. The second round of pit stops began on the same lap when Irvine made a pit stop. Häkkinen made his second stop on lap 37, and exited the pit lane 25.8 seconds behind Michael Schumacher but ahead of Coulthard. Michael Schumacher began to immediately pull away from Häkkinen; he radioed Brawn that he was approaching slower cars and asked whether he should make his final pit stop earlier than scheduled. Brawn told Michael Schumacher to remain on the circuit for the time being. Coulthard, Barrichello and Button remained in third, fourth and fifth positions respectively, during their second stops on lap 38 and 39. Wurz retired after spinning sideways exiting the chicane on lap 40. Michael Schumacher missed Wurz's stationary vehicle, and lost time manoeuvring past it. Wurz then reversed backwards as Häkkinen went by. Schumacher made his final pit stop on the same lap, emerging 4.1 seconds in front of Häkkinen, due to a pit stop lasting 1.2 seconds less than Häkkinen's and him gaining five seconds on the McLaren driver despite encountering both Jaguars and Wurz. Ralf Schumacher became the race's sixth retirement when he lost control of the rear of his car mounting a kerb and spun into the gravel trap when trying to lap Gené at turn two on lap 42. This promoted Villeneuve to the final points-scoring position of sixth. Heidfeld became the final driver to make a scheduled pit stop on the same lap. At the conclusion of lap 42, with the scheduled pit stops completed, the top six in the running order was Michael Schumacher, Häkkinen, Coulthard, Barrichello, Button, and Villeneuve. Heidfeld retired