▁a ▁pre - qual ifying ▁has ▁to ▁be ▁held . ▁Of ▁the ▁rid ers ▁in ▁the ▁two ▁groups , ▁the ▁top - tw elve ▁directly ▁qual ify ▁for ▁the ▁races . ▁The ▁remaining ▁teams ▁then ▁go ▁to ▁a ▁second - ch ance ▁qual ifying , ▁in ▁which ▁the ▁best ▁six ▁advance . ▁The ▁rid ers ▁placed ▁sevent h ▁and ▁e ighth ▁remain ▁in ▁reserve ▁should ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁qualified ▁teams ▁not ▁be ▁able ▁to ▁particip ate . ▁ ▁The ▁points ▁system ▁used ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 0 ▁was ▁the ▁same ▁as ▁had ▁been ▁in ▁use ▁since ▁ 1 9 8 4 ▁with ▁the ▁best ▁fifteen ▁teams ▁receiving ▁points ▁in ▁every ▁race ▁and ▁the ▁race ▁winner ▁receiving ▁ 2 0 ▁points . ▁It ▁was ▁the ▁last ▁time ▁this ▁system ▁was ▁used , ▁with ▁changes ▁being ▁made ▁to ▁it ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 2 ▁and , ▁again , ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 3 : ▁ ▁Ret ire ments ▁At ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 0 ▁season ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁long - term ▁compet itors ▁retired ▁from ▁the ▁World ▁Championship , ▁the ▁most ▁successful ▁of ▁those ▁being ▁German ▁Alo is ▁W en ninger , ▁run ners - up ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 7 ▁and ▁active ▁since ▁ 1 9 9 2 . ▁ ▁Calendar ▁The ▁calendar ▁for ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 1 ▁season : ▁▁ ▁Fl ags ▁for ▁passengers ▁not ▁shown . ▁ ▁Classification ▁ ▁R iders ▁The ▁top ▁ten ▁teams ▁in ▁the ▁final ▁overall ▁stand ings ▁were