1997 Canadian Grand Prix

1997 Canadian Grand Prix
Race 7 of 17 in the 1997 Formula One World Championship ← Previous race Next race →
Race details
Date	15 June 1997
Official name	XXXV Grand Prix Players du Canada
Location	Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Course	Temporary street circuit
Course length	4.421 km (2.747 miles)
Distance	54 laps, 238.734 km (148.342 miles)
Scheduled distance	69 laps, 305.049 km (189.549 miles)
Weather	Clear and mild with temperatures approaching 22.7 °C (72.9 °F) Wind speeds up to 4.1 km/h (2.5 mph)[1]
Pole position
Driver	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Time	1:18.095
Fastest lap
Driver	David Coulthard	McLaren-Mercedes
Time	1:19.635 on lap 37
Podium
First	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Second	Jean Alesi	Benetton-Renault
Third	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan-Peugeot
Lap leaders

The 1997 Canadian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on 15 June 1997. The race was stopped early on lap 54 after a big crash involving Olivier Panis, who broke his legs and would be unable to start the next seven Grands Prix. Michael Schumacher won ahead of Jean Alesi in the Benetton and Giancarlo Fisichella in the Jordan. David Coulthard had been leading, but was delayed for over a lap by a clutch problem during his second pit stop, shortly before Panis's crash. On lap 2, local driver Jacques Villeneuve crashed into the wall on the exit of the final corner. This wall would later be known as the 'Wall of Champions', after three former World Champions, including Villeneuve, crashed into it separately in the 1999 race.

It also marked the debut of Alexander Wurz, driving for Benetton in place of his compatriot Gerhard Berger. Berger had been suffering from a sinus illness for some time and during his time off his father was killed in a light aircraft accident.^[2]