de la Rosa made a pit stop from third position to retire from the race with mechanical issues on lap 32. The result allowed Button to move into the points-scoring positions. Wurz dropped to tenth after running eighth by lap 34. Meanwhile, Häkkinen took his only pit stop on lap 38, emerging behind Coulthard. Alesi, who was fourteenth, but yet to make his final pit stop, attempted to pass teammate Heidfeld but the two cars collided at the first corner. Both drivers retired from the race. Coulthard took his pit stop on the same lap, emerging behind Häkkinen. Salo, Herbert, Barrichello, Button and Villeneuve all made pit stops over the next five laps. At the conclusion of lap 50, with the scheduled pit stops completed, the running order was Häkkinen, Coulthard, Barrichello, Villeneuve, Button, Salo, Herbert, Gené, Wurz, Diniz, Zonta, Burti, Mazzacane and Ralf Schumacher.