Mixed bag for Jordan duo

The German took an amazing victory in the French Grand Prix after a superb race of high drama.

Frentzen and his Jordan team adopted a canny strategy in the rain-interrupted race. The race was punctuated by a lengthy safety car period when the rain started tipping down on lap 28.

Cars and drivers began pitting for wet tyres and fuel, but Jordan were the only team that made sure that their man could make it through to the end of the race without stopping again.

It marks the 32-year-old's second race win and confirms his re-emergence under Eddie Jordan as one of F1's hottest talents.

While one half of the Jordan camp was in ecstasy the other half was in agony. Damon Hill had a miserable race, hitting the wall just as the safety car was coming out. The Englishman later hinted that this may be his last race.

Conditions were dry when the race started and poleman Rubens Barrichello kept his advantage to lead into the first corner.

This lead was short lived after the fast starting David Coulthard passed the Brazilian to lead on lap six.

The Scot then looked to have the race in the bag, but he was cruelly robbed of the lead when his McLaren suffered mechanical failure on lap six.

Barrichello led up until the rains came and the safety car came out. Mika Hakkinen charged through the field from 14th to take second place behind Barrichello in time for the safety car period.

Battle resumed, and the Finn spun down to seventh while trying to pass Barrichello at the Adelaide hairpin on lap 38.

This left Michael Schumacher as Barrichello's closest challenger, and the German finally pounced on lap 44.

Schumacher pitted on lap 55, after losing time with a suspected gear selection problem. The German lost time having his steering wheel changed.

Barrichello, Hakkinen and all the other leading runners stopped for fuel and tyres, which left Frentzen out in front. The Jordan driver had run in the top four all afternoon and unobtrusively climbed the field as others pitted.

He went on to take the victory, a magnificent come-back from his huge Canadian Grand Prix accident.