| Race details | ||
|---|---|---|
| Race 7 of 17 in the 1997 Formula One season | ||
| Date | June 15, 1997 | |
| Official name | Grand Prix Players du Canada | |
| Location | Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, Canada | |
| Course | Temporary street circuit 4.421 km (2.747 mi) |
|
| Distance | 54 laps, 238.734 km (148.342 mi) | |
| Scheduled Distance | 69 laps, 305.049 km (189.549 mi) | |
| Weather | Clear | |
| Pole position | ||
| Driver | Michael Schumacher | Scuderia 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 |
The 1997 Canadian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 15, 1997.
The race was marred by a big crash involving Olivier Panis, who broke his legs and would be unable to start the next seven grands prix. It has been argued that this crash affected Panis's performance after returning to the cockpit later that season. The race ended under red flag conditions on lap 54 due to this crash.
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 1, local hero Jacques Villenueve 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 Villenueve, crashed into it separately in 1999.
It also marked the debut of Alexander Wurz, driving for Benetton in place of his compatriot Gerhard Berger. He had been suffering from a sinus illness for some time and during his time off his father was killed in a plane crash.
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| Previous race: 1997 Spanish Grand Prix |
FIA Formula One World Championship 1997 season |
Next race: 1997 French Grand Prix |
| Previous race: 1996 Canadian Grand Prix |
Canadian Grand Prix | Next race: 1998 Canadian Grand Prix |
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