Jarno Trulli of Italy in the Jordan goes off at the first corner during the European Formula One Grand Prix at the Nurburgring in Germany. (© Allsport)

21/05/00: Michael Schumacher dominated the rain-hit European Grand Prix to open an 18-point lead in the Formula One title race after his fourth victory in six races this year.

The German, putting in a flawless demonstration in the difficult conditions, brought his Ferrari home comfortably ahead of world champion Mika Hakkinen of Finland in a McLaren.

Michael Schumacher of Ferrari celebrates victory with one of his mechanics. (© Allsport)

Hakkinen's team mate David Coulthard finished third after holding off a late challenge from Brazilian Rubens Barrichello in the second Ferrari.

Italian Giancarlo Fisichella finished fifth in a Benetton ahead of Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa who came home sixth and gave the Arrows team their first point of the season.

The Jordan team had another disappointing race with both cars exiting very early in the race.

It was also the Spaniard's best result since he took a point at the Australian Grand Prix last year.

Schumacher's victory was the 39th of his career and lifts him to a total of 46 points in the drivers' championship. Hakkinen now has 28 and Coulthard 24.

Schumacher's win was his first at the demanding and technical Nuerburgring circuit since he won there for Benetton on his way to his second drivers' world title in 1995.

His total tally of wins leaves him only two short of Brazilian Ayrton Senna on 41 and 12 behind the all-time race winner Frenchman Alain Prost on 51.

Coulthard started from pole position but was beaten cleanly at the start by both Hakkinen and Schumacher.

His third place extended the number of races in which the pole-setter has failed to win to 11 since last year's Hungarian Grand Prix when Hakkinen triumphed from pole position.-Reuters