DC fails to live up to kingmaker billing

The Scot was given headline billing as the man who could influence the championship outcome if he got involved in the scrap between his McLaren team mate Mika Hakkinen and Ferrari's Michael Schumacher. Instead he was left far behind as the duo blistered off the start line and eventually trailed home a lonely third, over a minute behind the title rivals.

With Rubens Barrichello fourth, the Scot could not even wrap up third place in the drivers' championship.

The nine point gap (67 versus 58) means the Brazilian can take it from him if he wins the final round in Malaysia in two weeks time and Coulthard non-scores.

"I had a fairly quiet race and was not really involved in any scraps," said Coulthard. "I was just concentrating on keeping the car on the track as the conditions were difficult since they kept changing.

"It was far from ideal out there and I can't imagine what it felt like to be fighting for a championship in those conditions," he added. "It was hard enough doing what I was doing. One lap the track was damp and the next it wasn't.

"Anyway we look forward to next year where we will renew out championship challenge."

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