▁the ▁grid ▁and ▁over to ok ▁C oul th ard ▁going ▁into ▁the ▁first ▁corner . ▁Michael ▁Sch um acher ▁maintained ▁his ▁start ▁line ▁advantage ▁and ▁kept ▁the ▁lead ▁after ▁the ▁first ▁round ▁of ▁pit ▁stops . ▁During ▁the ▁course ▁of ▁the ▁second ▁st int ▁of ▁the ▁race , ▁Michael ▁Sch um acher ▁began ▁to ▁struggle ▁with ▁ty re ▁wear , ▁allowing ▁C oul th ard ▁to ▁close ▁the ▁gap ▁and ▁passed ▁him ▁on ▁lap ▁ 4 0 . ▁C oul th ard ▁maintained ▁his ▁lead ▁through ▁the ▁second ▁round ▁of ▁pit ▁stops ▁and ▁won ▁the ▁race . ▁Michael ▁Sch um acher ▁retired ▁on ▁lap ▁ 5 9 ▁with ▁an ▁engine ▁failure ▁prom oting ▁Hä kk inen ▁into ▁second ▁position . ▁Bar rich ello ▁took ▁third , ▁ahead ▁of ▁B AR ▁driver ▁Jacques ▁Vill ene uve ▁in ▁fourth . ▁ ▁The ▁race ▁was ▁C oul th ard ' s ▁third ▁victory ▁of ▁the ▁season , ▁his ▁first ▁at ▁Mag ny - C ours , ▁and ▁the ▁result ▁meant ▁that ▁he ▁reduced ▁Michael ▁Sch um acher ' s ▁points ▁advantage ▁in ▁the ▁D ri vers ' ▁Championship ▁to ▁twelve ▁points . ▁Hä kk inen ▁remained ▁third ▁on ▁ 3 8 ▁points , ▁six ▁ahead ▁of ▁Bar rich ello . ▁In ▁the ▁Con struct ors ' ▁Championship , ▁Mc L aren ' s ▁one - two ▁finish ▁allowed ▁them ▁to ▁narrow ▁the ▁gap ▁to ▁Ferr ari ▁to ▁be ▁six ▁points ▁behind , ▁with ▁eight ▁races ▁of ▁the ▁season ▁remaining . ▁ ▁Background ▁The ▁Grand ▁Prix