Villeneuve and Irvine take early baths due to rain

Irvine, who was determined to get off to a flying start after qualifying a lowly 12th,
failed to turn his weekend around when his Jaguar R2's engine overheated while waiting in the pits to take on wet tyres.

"It was worse than Spa proportions," said Irvine, "the rain was of Suzuka proportions - just like the weather at the race in Japan in 1995. I was hit from behind by an Arrows on the first bend but that didn't stop me. It was only when the engine cooked while I was waiting in the pits for wets that my race was finally over."

Villeneuve meanwhile, did not even make it as far as the pits and the BAR driver ended up in a gravel trap before he had the chance to take on wet tyres. The Canadian was, however, philosophical about his lack of result.

He said: "Suddenly I was in the gravel trap and that was it for me. That's life."

The sudden downpour caught most of the field out creating appalling conditions which led to the Safety Car being deployed. However, Villeneuve and Irvine had different views as to how the race stewards dealt with the situation.

Usually an advocate of the risk factor in F1, Villeneuve said: "It was just undriveable in those conditions. It was a big downpour. I couldn't see anything and what made it more dangerous was that everyone was on dry tyres and did not have their red lights on.

Irvine, on the other hand thought the conditions made for more exciting racing: "I don't think the safety car should have come out earlier," said the Ulsterman. "It makes things exciting when the weather is like that and it is not really any more dangerous to be honest."

For full race results, click here.