Japanese Grand Prix
Suzuka Circuit
Grand Prix starting grid
Race starts
Grid positions from race-result records; not a separately verified pre-race grid.
| POS | DRIVER | TEAM |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari |
| 2 | Mika Häkkinen | McLaren |
| 3 | David Coulthard | McLaren |
| 4 | Rubens Barrichello | Ferrari |
| 5 | Jenson Button | Williams |
| 6 | Ralf Schumacher | Williams |
| 7 | Eddie Irvine | Jaguar |
| 8 | Heinz-Harald Frentzen | Jordan |
| 9 | Jacques Villeneuve | BAR |
| 10 | Johnny Herbert | Jaguar |
| 11 | Alexander Wurz | Benetton |
| 12 | Giancarlo Fisichella | Benetton |
| 13 | Pedro de la Rosa | Arrows |
| 14 | Jos Verstappen | Arrows |
| 15 | Jarno Trulli | Jordan |
| 16 | Nick Heidfeld | Prost |
| 17 | Jean Alesi | Prost |
| 18 | Ricardo Zonta | BAR |
| 19 | Mika Salo | Sauber |
| 20 | Pedro Diniz | Sauber |
| 21 | Marc Gené | Minardi |
| 22 | Gastón Mazzacane | Minardi |