=========================================================
=                                                       =
=  FFFFF  11     CCCCC SSSSS    222   000   000   000   =
=  F     1 1     C     S       2   2 0   0 0   0 0   0  =
=  FFF     1     C     SSSSS      2  0   0 0   0 0   0  =
=  F       1     C         S     2   0   0 0   0 0   0  =
=  F     11111   CCCCC SSSSS   22222  000   000   000   =
=                                                       =
=                                                       =
=       F1 CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON 2000 DRIVING GUIDE       =
=                                                       =
=                            By                         =
=               Jamie Stafford/Wolf Feather             =
=                 FEATHER7@IX.NETCOM.COM                =
=                                                       =
=    ===============================================    =
=                                                       =
=    Initial Version Completed January 25, 2001         =
=                                                       =
=    FINAL VERSION Completed: August 20, 2001           =
=                                                       =
=========================================================
UPDATE NOTE
According to workers at a local mall gaming store, F1 2001 is
now set for release September 25 - go to your favorite gaming
store and reserve your copy now!!!!!  However, I understand
that Sony will finally be releasing its own popular European
F1-based game (Formula1 2001) in the States about the same
time, so when you place your reservation, make sure it is a
reservation for the EA Sports game.
Given that F1 2001 is about to be released and that this
particular game guide has been greatly expanded since its
initial release seven months ago, this is the FINAL VERSION
of the F1 Championship Season 2000 Driving Guide.  I would
like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who have
sent me e-mails, initiated conversations concerning tires and
wheelspin, and just even wrote to thank me for my efforts.
Finally, if you are looking for the perfect racing game to
fill your time until F1 2001 is released, I strongly suggest
Le Mans 24 Hours (for PS2).  It is certainly a very different
experience from driving open-wheel cars, but the semi-
simulation game is both fun and challenging, and gives
players a chance to experience endurance racing.  For those
skeptics who remember Test Drive: Le Mans, rest assured that
Le Mans 24 Hours is FAR superior!!!  Also, the game focuses
on more than simply the famous annual Le Mans race, adding
the Petit Le Mans (held annually at Road Atlanta), as well as
several world-famous circuits (including Suzuka, Catalynua,
and Donington) and their variations.  Le Mans 24 Hours was
just released this past week, and I already have a driving
guide prepared for it, available at FeatherSites
(http://www.angelcities.com/members/feathersites/) and many
of the same Web sites where this guide is located.
==============================================
==============================================
==============================================
CONTENTS
Spacing and Length
Permissions
E-mail List
Introduction
Assumptions and Conventions
Car Set-ups
Completely Subjective Section
General Tips
The 2000 Courses
Course Difficulty and Drivability Rankings
Differences and Additions
Training Mode
Scenario Mode
Grand Prix of Australia: Albert Park
Grand Prix of Brazil: Interlagos
Grand Prix of San Marino: Imola
Grand Prix of Great Britain: Silverstone
Grand Prix of Spain: Catalunya
Grand Prix of Europe: Nurburgring
Grand Prix of Monaco: Monte Carlo (Temporary Street Circuit)
Grand Prix of Canada: Gilles Villeneuve
Grand Prix of France: Nevers Magny-Cours
Grand Prix of Austria: A1-Ring
Grand Prix of Germany: Hockenheim
Grand Prix of Hungary: Hungaroring
Grand Prix of Belgium: Spa-Francorchamps
Grand Prix of Italy: Monza
Grand Prix of the United States: Indianapolis
Grand Prix of Japan: Suzuka
Grand Prix of Malaysia: Sepang
Wish List
Wrap-up
Contact Information
==============================================
==============================================
==============================================
SPACING AND LENGTH
For optimum readability, this driving guide should be
viewed/printed using a monowidth font, such as Courier.
Check for font setting by making sure the numbers and letters
below line up:
1234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
Note that this driving guide is well over 70 pages long using
Courier 12 font with single-spacing in Microsoft Word.
==============================================
PERMISSIONS
Permission is hereby granted for a user to download and/or
print out a copy of this driving guide for personal use.
However, due to the extreme length, printing this driving
guide may not be such a good idea.
This driving guide may only be posted on: FeatherGuides,
GameFAQs.com, f1gamers.com, PSXCodez.com, Cheatcc.com,
Absolute-PlayStation.com, RedCoupe, InsidePS2Games.com,
CheatPlanet.com, The Cheat Empire, a2zweblinks.com, Gameguru,
cheatingplanet.com, neoseeker.com, ps2fantasy.com, and
vgstrategies.com.  Please contact me for permission to post
elsewhere on the Internet.
Should anyone wish to translate this driving guide into other
languages (F1 Championship Season 2000 is also optimized for
French and Spanish), please contact me for permission(s) and
provide me with a copy when complete (especially important so
that I can improve my French and Spanish skills).
Remember:  Plagiarism in ANY form is NOT tolerated!!!!!
==============================================
E-MAIL LIST
I have also decided to implement an e-mail list, to notify
others when this driving guide is updated (which seems to be
at least monthly).  I do plan on writing a driving guide for
F1 2001, so those on this list will be automatically included
in the list for the F1 2001 driving guide.
Interested persons should send an e-mail to me at
FEATHER7@IX.NETCOM.COM and ask to be included in this list.
As always, general comments, concerns, questions, rants,
raves, etc., can also be sent to me at this same e-mail
address.
==============================================
==============================================
==============================================
INTRODUCTION
Most likely, if you play F1 Championship Season 2000, then
you are at least a casual fan of Formula 1 racing, and have
at least basic knowledge of many or all of the currently-used
F1 courses.  That knowledge does indeed help when first
playing F1 Championship Season 2000, and vice versa -
extensive gameplay helps in determining where the drivers are
on each course when races are televised.
The main part of this driving guide provides information to
help you to cleanly drive each course.  Even those who know
the courses fairly well and/or play the game regularly can
always use tips.
Please note that much of this information comes from the
driving guide I wrote for F1 2000 (the predecessor to F1
Championship Season 2000), also by EA Sports.  Those who have
read and/or downloaded the driving guide for F1 2000 will
already have the same basic information covered in this
driving guide.  This driving guide has been modified and
expanded to reflect the differences between the two games,
and I am periodically adding more details to the circuit
information (especially where there are some minor
differences between the two games) as well as a Wish List in
case anyone from EA Sports is reading this document.
The information within this driving guide is based on the
PSX/PS1 version of F1 Championship Season 2000.  I have not
had the chance (i.e.: funds) to acquire the PS2 version, but
I have been told by a local gaming store employee that the
only real difference between the two versions is a richer
overall color in the PS2 version.  Then again, the March 2001
issue of _PSM_ royally panned the PS2 version for its
'cartoony graphics' (page 42).
==============================================
ASSUMPTIONS AND CONVENTIONS
Several of the official course and segment names used in F1
racing include the use of characters which are not standard
to the English language, on which the Internet and standard
text-only documents are based.  In order to eliminate the
potential for 'strange characters' in a standard, text-only,
Internet-distributed document, these characters have
purposely not been used - much to the consternation of
language purists, including myself.
This driving guide is designed with the assumption that you
(the player) are playing with Dry Weather, Fuel Usage, Flags,
Equipment Failures, and Damage all activated.  (Weather is
randomized if Realistic Weather is chosen.)  Most important
here is Flags; with the Flags option activated, shortcutting
corners, driving too far off-course, passing another car when
the yellow flag is displayed, and reckless driving (including
driving backward during a race) will instigate a ten-second
Stop-Go Penalty; driving backward results in an immediate
Black Flag, ending your race).  It is not possible to
'accumulate' multiple outstanding Stop-Go Penalties and then
serve them all at once (that would be far too easy!!!); if
more than one Stop-Go Penalty is outstanding, you will be
shown a Black Flag and be forced to end the race prematurely.
According to the FIA's rules for F1 competition, a driver may
make no more than three complete laps before serving a Stop-
Go Penalty once one has been assigned, or else the driver is
shown the Black Flag.  However, if a Stop-Go Penalty is
issued in the last five laps of a race and is unserved, the
driver is instead penalized by adding twenty seconds to his
or her overall time.  F1 Championship Season 2000 also
follows the twenty-second penalty in this case, but only if
the Stop-Go Penalty was assigned with less than three
complete laps remaining in the race.
Also, F1 Championship Season 2000 gives a driver the Black
Flag for entering Pit Lane from the wrong direction (Pit
Exit).
Most racetracks outside the United States name most corners
and even some straightaways.  Where these names are known,
they will be included in parentheses and referenced in the
explanatory text.  These names have been gathered from course
maps available on the courses' official Web sites, my memory
of how F1 races have been called by American TV sportscasters
(Fox Sports Net and SpeedVision, in 1999 and 2000), and/or
from the Training Mode of F1 Championship Season 2000
(corner/segment names are listed at the bottom of the
screen).  To the extent possible, these names have been
translated into English.
==============================================
CAR SET-UPS
First, these set-ups are for the PSX and PS2 versions of F1
Championship Season 2000.  It was recently brought to my
attention that the PC version of the game uses a different
set-up configuration.  Unfortunately, I cannot provide any
assistance here, as I own a Mac, only use PCs on rare
occasions on campus, and do not have access to a PC on which
I can play games.  Gomen nasaiŠ
During the Test Day, Practice, and Qualifying sessions,
sitting in the Pits and pressing the Start button brings up
an options screen.  Selecting 'Car Setup' brings up dialogues
to change Front Downforce, Rear Downforce, Gear Ratios,
Steering Lock, and other car settings (press the up, down,
and circle buttons to switch between these dialogues).  For
convention, this driving guide will use the following system
to show these settings:
Ground Clearance: -1
These dialogues show seven small boxes.  The centermost box
means a neutral (zero) setting.  The three boxes to the left
mean progressively lower settings (negative), while the three
boxes to the right mean progressively higher settings
(positive).  The number indicates how many boxes in each
direction the red square should move.
Each course will have suggested settings to help stabilize
the car chosen for that circuit.  These are simply
suggestions, largely based upon my rather aggressive driving
style, with the car truly on the hair-thin edge of its
limits.  Experiment and find the car set-up which works best
for your driving style for each course.  I would assume that
the bulk of any individual player deviations will be made to
the Front Downforce, Rear Downforce, and Rear Diffuser
settings.
If this makes any difference, these car set-ups were all
specifically set playing as Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) in
Practice Mode, with dry weather, no damage, no flags, no tire
wear, and no failures.  The car set-ups presented here are
essentially the same ones that I use in actual races, just
more fine-tuned with several laps in Practice Mode.
Also related to the suggested set-ups, I recently received an
e-mail from a highly-observant player asking why I use a Gear
Ratio of -3 (fastest acceleration) on every circuit.  While I
replied to him directly, I assumed others might also be
wondering about this consistent setting, to which I can only
reply in a two-part answer.  First, this was originally an
unconscious 'holdover' from playing other racing games, such
as the Gran Turismo series.  Most importantly, however, it
fits my aggressive driving style quite well, providing
quicker acceleration - which is especially useful for passing
in turns, or for recovering quickly when I brake too deep
into a corner.  (For those wondering about this last
statement, the driving tips for each course are for more
'standard' driving styles, not for highly-aggressive driving
styles like mine.)  While Gear Ratio of -3 produces fastest
acceleration, using the suggested car set-up for each course
(except perhaps for Monaco) will still allow players to drive
faster than any CPU-controlled vehicle on the track; on long
straightaways (such as at Monza and Indianapolis, and
especially at Hockenheim), speeds of well over 200MPH/320KPH
(even approaching 220MPH/350KPH) are quite commonŠ and isn't
that really fast enough!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
==============================================
COMPLETELY SUBJECTIVE SECTION
My favorite courses are:
Albert Park
Imola
Monaco (to watch a race, not to actually race - especially
since I was able to visit Monaco in 1991)
Hockenheim
Spa-Francorchamps
Monza
Suzuka
My least favorite courses are:
Interlagos (but NOT because of any falling billboards!!!)
Nurburgring
Monaco (to race)
A1-Ring
Sepang
My favorite corners:
Albert Park: Turns 11 and 12
Silverstone: Copse and Stowe
Monaco: The Tunnel, and the entry to the Swimming Pool
Chicane
Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve: Nurburgring and Turns 12 and 13
Hockenheim: The Stadium and the Ayrton Senna Chicane
Spa-Francorchamps: La Source, Pouhon, and Blanchimont
Monza: Curva Parabolica
Indianapolis: Turn 13 (Indy/NASCAR Turn 1)
Suzuka: Degner and 130R
My least favorite corners are:
Monaco: Everything but The Tunnel and the entry to the
Swimming Pool Chicane
Spa-Francorchamps: Bruxelles
Most hairpins (especially at Nurburgring)
My favorite Pit Lanes (based on Pit Entry) are at:
Imola
Spa-Francorchamps
Monza
Indianapolis
My least favorite Pit Lanes (based on Pit Entry) are at:
Albert Park
Interlagos
Monaco
A1-Ring
Hungaroring
Sepang
My least favorite Pit Lane (based on Pit Exit) is at:
Interlagos
My favorite teams are:
Ferrari
Prost
Jaguar
My least favorite team is:
McLaren
==============================================
GENERAL TIPS
Knowing each circuit extremely well is essential to success
in F1 Championship Season 2000Š as it is an any racing game.
This is especially important when driving in overcast/wet
conditions at circuits with significant numbers of trees near
the track itself, such as at Hockenheim and at Spa-
Francorchamps, as the numerous trees will cast dark shadows
across much of the visible track ahead.  Also, in any weather
condition, The Tunnel at Monaco is a lengthy stretch of
darkness despite the view of the water to the left.  These
shadows can obscure not only changes in track elevation and
the placement of corners, but also the position of vehicles
ahead (especially darker-colored vehicles, such as the Prost
and McLaren cars).
Also important for wet racing conditions, look for the single
red taillight on the back of each car.  In wet and other
poor-visibility conditions, F1 cars are required to turn on
the taillight so that the vehicles can be seen by those
behind them.  Especially in wet conditions, this is extremely
helpful, as it is not always possible to see the actual car
ahead and judge its distance from you as it kicks up a large
'rooster tail' of spray, especially when on lengthy
straightaways.
In general, bumping other cars is a bad thing:  You might
damage your own car, and, if it occurs too much, you will
likely be assigned a Stop-Go Penalty.  If you ram another
car's backside at full speed, you will almost definitely
receive a Stop-Go Penalty.  The best way to avoid Stop-Go
Penalties is to keep at least two wheels on the approved
driving surfaces (pavement, rumble strips, and the rare
green-colored concrete swing-out extensions) at all times,
and to refrain from colliding with other cars.  Remember that
you need only be 'out of bounds' by ONE PIXEL to receive a
Stop-Go Penalty, and the 'out of bounds' lines rarely
coincide with actual physical features (rumble strips,
different types of grass, etc.).
The rumble strips can be your friends or your enemies.  If
you attempt to drive across rumble strips at a near-
perpendicular angle (such as shortcutting Chicane at Suzuka),
they will almost certainly be your enemies, causing your car
to slide, spin violently, and/or even throw your vehicle into
the air.  If driving in wet conditions, even using rumble
strips as intended can be dangerous, as the water greatly
reduces the amount of grip they will provide for your tires.
Normally, the best way to approach a turn is from the
outside.  At the apex of the turn, your car should be as
close as possible to the inside of the turn.  As you leave
the turn, edge back toward the outside.  This is obviously
made more difficult on really tight and/or blind corners,
especially at Monaco.  An excellent way to learn how to
navigate various types of corners is to complete all the
license tests in any game of the Gran Turismo series.
If playing with Fuel Usage activated, it may be a good idea
to set your Pit Stops for late in the race.  This way, should
you need to pit early to repair damage or replace worn tires,
you can also take on 'extra' fuel at that time and eliminate
a later-scheduled Pit Stop.  Note that this is not possible
when serving a Stop-Go Penalty, as the Pit Crew is not
permitted to touch the vehicle while the Penalty is being
served (although in actual races, the Pit Crew will often
surround the car for a visual inspection, taking care not to
touch the vehicle).
Braking is of utmost importance, especially when approaching
a tight chicane or a blind corner.  If you are not sure of
where a corner is (especially with other cars in front of
you), brake early.  For a real-world example of what can
happen by missing a braking zone, refer to the 2000 Grand
Prix of Italy at Monza (Lap 1, Roggia Chicane; this is the
massive accident in which the resultant flying debris struck
and killed a volunteer corner worker).
If you come into a (tight) corner too fast, several things
may happen.  First, if you slam hard on the brakes, you may
have brake-lock (the white-gray smoke coming up from one or
more of the wheels) and slide straight ahead into whatever is
there to stop you - hopefully sand or grass, but perhaps a
barrier or (worse) one or more cars.  Second, if you keep
your speed up and try to take the corner anyhow, you will
likely spin and/or slide the car.  With the new physics
engine of F1 Championship Season 2000, spins and/or slides
are far more likely now than in the preceding version of the
game.  This second scenario is also (subjective statement
coming) 'more true' to actual F1 racing, as the line between
maintaining and losing control of the vehicle - especially at
the incredibly high average speeds of most of the circuits -
is not only gray and hazy, but thinner than a strand of Homer
Simpson's hair.  This further demonstrates the importance of
early braking (again, refer to the 2000 Grand Prix of Italy).
There are a number of corners with uphill or downhill slopes
in F1 racingŠ and even a banked corner (Turn 13 at
Indianapolis).  At Indianapolis, the Turn 13 banking
fortunately keeps the cars from mowing down the fans in the
grandstands and should prevent vehicles from going airborne.
However, most sloped corners do not have such "nice"
barriers, so if you speed through one of these corners and
hit the rumble strip(s) at the right angle (or wrong angle,
depending on your point of view), your will certainly spin,
slide, and/or flip the vehicle.  Are you wearing your seat
belt and helmet?
Activating the Flags option in F1 Championship Season 2000
causes the game to use the same flags and related rules as an
actual F1 race.  If shown a Blue Flag, you are to allow the
car(s) behind you to pass.  When shown a Yellow Flag, you are
to slow down and not pass anyone until you see a Green Flag
(normal racing conditions); however, when the Yellow Flag is
displayed, you are certainly permitted to pass a vehicle with
obvious problems, such as a car with a blown engine.
Amazingly, in F1 Championship Season 2000, a car can still be
driven even after a wheel has fallen off!!!!!  If you do lose
a wheel, it will usually be on the front of the car, due to
bumping another car or smashing against a barrier.  Turning
the car toward the missing wheel (i.e., turning left if the
left front wheel is missing) is not very difficult, but
turning away from the missing wheel (turning right in this
example) is nearly impossible at any speed faster than a
crawling snail.  Fortunately, this means that you can drive
back to the Pits for repairs, so long as you drive slow
enough to keep the engine revs down so it doesn't expire.
However, once any two wheels have separated from the car,
your race immediately ends.
It is rare that your rear wing will ever be damaged; the most
probable means of damaging the rear wing is spinning and
hitting a barrier or another car with the backside of your
vehicle.  However, if you are too aggressive or are not
careful entering the Pit Lane (especially if coming in at
full speed at Monza, with a rather narrow Pit Lane Entry),
you may damage your front wing.  If a wing only has 'a slight
knock' and is labeled yellow in the damage indicator, you can
still drive normally, although serious caution must be taken
on downhill turns (such as the first corner at Hungaroring).
One significant change from F1 2000 is that, should you lose
a wing, your car still handles as if the wing was still
intact, which reduces the realism of the game, but does allow
you to stay out of the pits, which is highly important in a
close race.
Also concerning the front and rear wings, it takes
approximately twenty seconds to change a wing.  If both wings
are damaged, expect to sit in the Pits for about forty
seconds before you are able to rejoin the race.  TAKE CARE OF
THE WINGS!!!!!
If a car is trying to pass, there are several methods to keep
from losing a position (as long as you are not shown a Blue
Flag).  If the pass attempt is in or near an upcoming corner,
take away the inside or outside line, depending on where the
opposing vehicle is in relation to yours.  If the other car
does get a wheel in front of you, edge TOWARD the opposing
vehicle, and eventually, the other car will be out in the
grass or sand and will fall back.  Aggressive drivers may
simply wish to bump wheels, causing the other car to spin
and/or crash, especially if there is a barrier on the
opposite side of the opposing vehicle; however, you may
damage your own car, particularly the wheels and/or the
suspension.  While not particularly successful, those driving
with automatic transmissions can quickly switch to Neutral
(Shift Down button) and then back to the previous gear (Shift
Up button), creating a 'smokescreen' cloud as brake dust
flies out from behind the car; however, this can cause flat-
spotting and undue tire wear on your own car, as well as
potential damage to the engine and/or transmission,
especially when this maneuver is performed in top gear on a
truly quick straightaway (such as most of Hockenheim).
If playing Championship Mode, points are awarded for the top
six cars at the end of the race; these points are given to
the driver (for the Drivers Championship) and the team (for
the Constructors Championship).  The points are awarded as
follows, in accordance with FIA regulations:
First Place:    10 points
Second Place:    6 points
Third Place:     4 points
Fourth Place:    3 points
Fifth Place:     2 points
Sixth Place:     1 point
Each team has two cars starting each race; a team could
conceivably receive a maximum of 16 points in a given race.
Thus, if you are concerned about winning the Constructors
Championship, race as a driver for an historically good team,
such as Ferrari or McLaren.
Whichever driver and team you select to represent you in the
race, you will periodically be given radio updates as to your
teammate's status during the race (i.e., if you race as Jean
Alesi, you will be given status updates on Nick Heidfeld's
track position and pitting schedule).  It is extremely
important to listen to this information, especially during
the window(s) for pit stops, as each team can only service
one car at a time in Pit Lane.  If you come into Pit Lane
while your teammate is being serviced, you cannot pit and
will be forced to drive straight through Pit Lane without
receiving serviceŠ which itself will likely set you back
severely in track position, but you will also be set back
even further when you come around again to make your true pit
stop.
If racing in wet conditions using a chase-view camera,
looking behind you is practically useless due to the 'rooster
tail' of spray kicked up behind your car.  To get a clear
view of traffic behind you, first change quickly to driver
view or front-wing view, then use the rear view button.  When
finished, release the rear view button and quickly return to
your favorite chase view position.  This 'stunt' is best
performed on a straightaway with no cars immediately in front
of you.
Also important for racing in wet conditions, brake earlier
than usual.  If you continue to use the same 'dry conditions'
braking, you will likely slide and/or spin the car as you
attempt to navigate (sharp) corners.  It may also help to
pump the brakes through tight corners, especially for
hairpins such as 'Mickey' and 'Mouse' at Indianapolis.
If you are a visually-oriented person, it may help you to go
to the FIA's official Web site (http://www.fia.com/ - the
site is available in both English and in French) and go to
the current season's race schedule.  From here, the official
Web sites (available in at least English and the host
country's official languages; sometimes other language
options are also available) of most of the race circuits can
be accessed, and course maps can be downloaded and printed
for you to study.  Note that some online course maps are in
very high resolution, thus file size is large; this may be a
concern for those using a slow computer and/or modem.
Always use caution when passing, cornering, or even
breathing, as auto racing is an inherently dangerous sport!!!
==============================================
THE 2000 COURSES
F1 Championship Season 2000 presents the courses in the order
in which they were presented for the 2000 Formula 1 season.
This driving guide will follow the same convention, which
will be especially useful for those playing in Championship
Mode or Scenario Mode.
F1 Race Schedule, 2000 Season:
March 12      Australia      Albert Park
March 26      Brazil         Interlagos
April 9       San Marino     Imola
April 23      Great Britain  Silverstone
May 7         Spain          Catalunya
May 21        Europe         Nurburgring
June 4        Monaco         Unnamed (Street Circuit)
June 18       Canada         Gilles Villeneuve
July 2        France         Nevers Magny-Cours*
July 16       Austria        A1-Ring
July 30       Germany        Hockenheim
August 13     Hungary        Hungaroring*
August 27     Belgium        Spa-Francorchamps
September 10  Italy          Monza*
September 24  USA            Indianapolis
October 8     Japan          Suzuka
October 22    Malaysia       Sepang
*These circuits are not used in Scenario Mode.
NOTE: The 2001 F1 race schedule is available at the official
FIA Web site (http://www.fia.com/). The race schedule also
has links to the official Web sites of most of the permanent
and temporary (street) circuits hosting F1 races.  Please
note that the 2001 race schedule uses the same courses as the
2000 season (on which F1 Championship Season 2000 is based),
but in a different order.  For example, the Grand Prix of
Malaysia was the final race of the 2000 season, but is the
second race of the 2001 season.
==============================================
COURSE DIFFICULTY AND DRIVABILITY RANKINGS
This section is highly subjective - take this information
with several grains of salt.  The courses here are listed by
their order in the 2000 F1 racing season.
Australia           Easy       Extreme fun, extreme SPEED
Brazil              Medium     Lower course frustrating
Imola               Medium     Fun and FAST
Silverstone         Medium     Good
Catalunya           Easy       Fun
Nurburgring         Medium     Somewhat frustrating
Monaco              Difficult  Highly annoying (tightness)
Gilles Villeneuve   Medium     Fun
Nevers Magny-Cours  Easy       Quite fun, quite fast
A1-Ring             Medium     Very challenging
Hockenheim          Easy       Fun and EXTREMELY FAST
Hungaroring         Medium     Upper course challenging,
but fun overall
Spa-Francorchamps   Medium     Enjoyably challenging
Monza               Easy       Fun and FAST
Indianapolis        Medium     Depends on set-up
Suzuka              Medium     Fun challenge
Sepang              Medium     Not too bad, but not my
favorite
==============================================
DIFFERENCES AND ADDITIONS
There are some notable differences from F1 2000, as well as
significant additions.
The first major difference is the sleeker design of the
game's menus.  I have been playing F1 Championship Season
2000 (PSX version) on a PlayStation 2, and the colors are
also much more vivid; whether this is due to the game itself
and/or the PS2 I do not know.  The video footage of actual F1
races is also much better on the eyes than in the original
game.
Along the same lines, the opening video of actual F1 races is
much nicer than the opening of F1 2000, although the original
game's initial focus on a particular driver in its opening
video certainly helped to position the player within the F1
environment.
The music is also different, as one would probably expect.
The music is good overall, but I personally do prefer the
music from F1 2000.
The physics model has been modified for this newer game.
This is especially good for racing on the streets of Monaco,
as the newer physics model makes simple survival at Monaco
MUCH easier!!!!!!!!!
Speaking of Monaco, the chicane after leaving The Tunnel now
has only rumble strips marking the official course; the
barrier used in F1 2000 has thankfully been removed.  Even
better, the CPU does not assign a Stop-Go Penalty for driving
in a straight line over the rumble strips and bypassing the
chicane, so this is a new passing zone.  However, if you
blast through here at top speed, the angle of the rumble
strips will almost certainly force your car into a spinŠ and
an inevitable collision with the barrier(s) and/or other
cars.
The car set-up options have been expanded.  However, it is
unrealistically possible to drive at top speed with a missing
wing.
The most significant additions for F1 Championship Season
2000 are Training Mode and Scenario Mode.  Training Mode
allows you to learn each course's intricacies by using
colored cones to mark braking, turning, apex, and exit for
each corner, and by providing interactive commentary.
Scenario Mode presents realistic racing situations which
range from fairly easy to expert.  Training Mode and Scenario
Mode are both discussed further below.
Another set of additions to this newer game is the new
potential problems you can face.  The original game's
problems of a blown engine and lost and damaged wing(s) and
tire(s) are still available, but new problems have been
added: brake failure, suspension failure, engine misfire,
missing gears, punctured tire(s), etc.  Some of these
problems can be fixed in a Pit Stop, but each fixable problem
takes approximately twenty seconds to repair or replace.  For
example, if you have damaged both wings and the engine has a
minor misfire, expect to spend a full minute sitting in your
pit stall.  These problems are most significant in Scenario
Mode.
As you progress through Championship Mode, you may be given
the option to change the difficulty setting of Championship
Mode based upon your performance.  You are also given the
opportunity to view the race analysis (lap-by-lap positions
of each car/driver, with crashes and pit stops marked) after
each race.
Finally, the engines sound a bit closer to realistic than
they did in F1 2000.  The sounds are more piercing, and carry
very well through the air - to the point that if you are
driving all alone in one section of the course, you are far
more likely to hear the competitors driving on the opposite
side of the course.  This can also make it difficult in some
instances to determine exactly where the next batch of
traffic is on the course, especially at a circuit as small as
A1-Ring, or at Suzuka due to its figure-eight formation.
==============================================
TRAINING MODE
Risking to make this driving guide obsolete is the Training
Mode, which was not available in F1 2000.  Even expert-level
drivers from F1 2000 should begin here, as the physics engine
of F1 Championship Season 2000 is somewhat different, thus
the overall handling of the cars is also a little different.
The biggest driving change between F1 2000 and F1
Championship Season 2000 is that this newer game requires
more use of the brakes, especially for aggressive drivers.
Training Mode uses the following colored cones to help you
see how to handle each corner of a given course:
Blue Cone     Begin braking here
Orange Cone   Begin cornering here
Yellow Cone   This is the apex; begin acceleration
White Cone    This is the exit; accelerate hard
Note that after a quick combination of corners or a chicane,
there will not be a white exit cone for each corner.
Instead, the white cone will follow that segment of the
course.
==============================================
SCENARIO MODE
One of the more interesting aspects of the 'upgrade' to F1
Championship Season 2000 is the new Scenario Mode.  There are
fourteen total scenario races, each progressing in the level
of difficulty.  Each scenario race takes place at a different
course, so it would be wise to become quite familiar with ALL
the courses before attempting Scenario Mode. Note that the
initial scenarios are set at the same level of difficulty as
Championship Mode.
Each scenario presents a realistic F1 situation, ranging from
simply finishing at or above a certain position, to simple
survival.  As you progress through Scenario Mode, you will
also be presented with different types of weather, thus
affecting your driving and your overall strategy.  Further,
for each Scenario race, you race as a different driver from
the 2000 F1 season (some drivers are 'repeated;' see below).
Many of these Scenario races are 'simple,' in that you need
to just drive and finish at or above a certain position.
However, some of the later Scenario races require quite a bit
of strategy, especially to receive a Gold Award; here, it
might be best to read the scenario, then wait and consider
the potential strategies for several hours first.
The initial Scenario races are fairly short, and can be
completed well within thirty minutes.  The later Scenario
races will likely take longer.  The fourteenth and final
Scenario race is a FULL race, so do not even attempt the
final scenario unless you have about two hours during which
you will not be interrupted by siblings, telephones, bathroom
breaks, hyperactive pets, etc.
Without giving away the challenges presented in Scenario
Mode, this is where the Scenario races are held, and the
driver you will be playing as:
1.)  Grand Prix of Australia            Villeneuve
2.)  Grand Prix of Brazil               Gene
3.)  Grand Prix of San Marino           Coulthard
4.)  Grand Prix of Great Britain        Button
5.)  Grand Prix of Spain                Trulli
6.)  Grand Prix of Europe               Coulthard
7.)  Grand Prix of Monaco               Hakkinen
8.)  Grand Prix of Canada               Wurtz
9.)  Grand Prix of Austria              Verstappen
10.) Grand Prix of Germany              Alesi
11.) Grand Prix of Belgium              M. Schumacher
12.) Grand Prix of the United States    Irvine
13.) Grand Prix of Japan                Salo
14.) Grand Prix of Malaysia             M. Schumacher
In most of the Scenario races, obtaining the Gold Award is
fairly easy, so long as you keep the car on the track and in
good condition, and fix any initial problems at a strategic
time.  However, a few races present significant challenges,
as you will start having already been lapped once by the race
leader.  In order to win these races and obtain their Gold
Awards, two potential tactics come into play:
1.) Hope (pray to every deity you know, wish upon a star
before beginning the Scenario race, etc.) for the race
leader to retire early, or at least experience a
serious problem slowing him significantly and forcing
him into the Pits for servicing.
2.) Drive aggressively and get into position to unlap
yourself, then purposely try to knock the leading car
off the track and into a barrier, hoping that a major
mechanical failure will cause him to retire early.
This tactic will likely need to be used several times
in a single race.
Of course, the latter option also presents a serious risk of
eliminating YOU from the race; similarly, the race stewards
(i.e., the CPU) may well assign you a Stop-Go Penalty for
unsportsmanlike driving.  Note that you will likely need
multiple tries to obtain a Gold Award when you start a
Scenario race one lap behind, so prepare to be highly
frustrated, and try not to throw the controller/wheel through
the television screen!!!!!!!!!
==============================================
==============================================
==============================================
GRAND PRIX OF AUSTRALIA: ALBERT PARK
The 2000 F1 racing season begins with a set of 'flyaway'
(non-European) races.  This fast, attractive circuit is built
around Melbourne's beautiful Albert Park Lake, using actual
city streets which generally receive little traffic.  There
are usually plenty of trees on both sides of the track, with
a nice view of Melbourne's buildings as you come through
Turns 12 and 13.  The Albert Park circuit features many long,
gentle, no-braking corners, allowing for incredible top-end
speed all around this completely-flat circuit.  However,
these are tempered with several moderate- and hard-braking
corners, and dark shadows (especially in wet conditions)
obscuring long stretches of the pavement.
Suggested Car Set-up:
Gear Ratios: -3
Steering Lock: +3
Front Suspension: -2
Rear Suspension: -2
Brake Balance: -2
Engine RPM: +2
Side Pod Radiators: +3
Front Downforce: -3
Rear Downforce: -3
Ride Height: -3*
Rear Diffuser: +3
*This is an ABSOLUTELY FLAT circuit, so the only reason to
raise ride height is to slow the car for better cornering.
At Albert Park, this is really only an issue at Turns 3 and
15, and in the odd-formation Pit Lane Entry.
Pit Straight: The front straight is fairly long, following a
light-braking corner (Turn 16).  However, Turn 1 requires an
early braking zone.
Turn 1: A moderate-braking right-hand corner.  If you miss
the braking zone here, there is a wide area in which you can
recover.  Traffic will often bunch up entering Turn 1.
Turn 2: Immediately following Turn 1, this is a gentle left-
hand turn which can be taken at full speed.  Excellent
acceleration out of Turn 1 makes the exit of Turn 2 and the
ensuing straightaway a prime passing zone.  Beware the
barrier on the right on exiting Turn 2.
Turn 3: This is a hard-braking right-hand corner following a
long straightaway.  Again, there is a wide recovery area
here.  A little speed can be made coming out of Turn 3, but
the straightaway is virtually non-existent, requiring
moderate braking for Turn 4.  This is definitely NOT a place
to pass (safely) unless you have EXCELLENT brakes and little
or no tire wear.  Traffic tends to bunch up here for Turns 3
and 4.
Turn 4: A left-hand corner requiring at least moderate
braking.  To the outside of the corner is a wide, paved
recovery area; however, driving too far out to the right or
remaining on this paved area beyond the painted advertisement
will result in a Stop-Go Penalty.  The inside of Turn 4 is
also a wide paved zone, but short-cutting Turn 4 by more than
one car length will also result in a Stop-Go Penalty.  Good
acceleration out of Turn 4 can set up a good passing
opportunity.
Turn 5: A gentle right-hand corner through the trees which
leads to a nice straightaway.  No braking is necessary here.
Turn 6: A semi-hidden moderate-braking right-hand corner.
Traffic will sometimes bunch up here, as drivers try to spot
the corner.  A wide recovery zone is available here as well,
but take care not to shortcut the corner.  While it is
possible to blast through Turn 6 without braking, doing so
will almost certainly result in loss of control (with
subsequent spinning, sliding, and/or crashing) due to the
angle of the rumble strips.
Turn 7: Immediately following Turn 6, Turn 7 is a very gentle
left-hand corner which brings you alongside the northernmost
end of Albert Park Lake.
Turn 8: This is almost not a turn at all, as it curves
extremely gently along the shoreline, but the course map on
the race's official Web site lists this as a corner.
Turn 9: The first piece of pavement to the right is NOT the
official corner; taking this bypass area results in a Stop-Go
Penalty if playing with Flags activated.  The official corner
is a tight right-hand turn which requires moderate or hard
braking.  Traffic almost always bunches up here.
Turn 10: This is almost not a turn at all, as it curves
extremely gently to the left and back along the shoreline.
There is absolutely NO room for error on the right side of
the track, as the pavement runs directly up against the
barrier.  The view of Albert Park Lake is actually quite
serene from here (and the water is oh-so-blueŠ), but don't
take your eyes off the course!!!  Once you pass underneath
the second pedestrian bridge and see the grandstands ahead on
the right, drift to the right to set up the best racing line
for Turns 11 and 12.
Turns 11 and 12: If you are not navigating traffic, Turns 11
and 12 can be taken at full speed (even at 200+ MPH),
although some drivers may feel more comfortable with tapping
the brakes once in each turn.  However, sliding even one
pixel across the rumble strips on either side of the chicane
results in a Stop-Go Penalty.  It is very easy to slide off
the pavement exiting this chicane if taken at top speed, so a
flawless racing line is crucial.
Straightaway: The pavement runs directly up against the
barrier on the left side of the course here, creating
problems for cars on the left whose engines suddenly expire.
Turn 13: This is a semi-blind right-hand corner requiring
moderate braking if you are alone; traffic tends to bunch up
here.  The recovery area again is quite wide, with a long
run-off strip if needed.  This leads to a short straightaway
which can be a prime passing zone if acceleration out of Turn
13 is strong.  Note that is you were able to take Turns 11
and 12 without braking or navigating traffic, you can reach
over 210MPH just before entering Turn 13, making braking even
more important.
Turn 14: A light-braking, right-hand corner with a wide
recovery area.  Experts should be able to take this corner at
top speed (if not in traffic) with a flawless racing line, or
by dropping the right-side tires onto the grass.  This is a
good place to pass on braking upon entering the corner.
Turn 15: Do not be fooled by the run-off lane which proceeds
directly ahead into an unmoving barrier; there IS a turn to
the left here, requiring moderate braking.  This is also a
good place to pass on braking when entering the corner.  Note
that the Pit Entry is immediately to the right upon exiting
the corner, so be sure to look for cars moving slower than
expected as they enter Pit Lane.
Turn 16: Without traffic, this right-hand corner can be taken
at full speed if you slowed enough in Turn 15.  But, be
careful with the approach and exit angles for this turn, as
the barrier (and a grandstand) is just a few feet off the
pavement on the left as you exit the corner.  This leads onto
the Pit Straight.
Pit Entry: The Pit Lane begins to the right immediately after
Turn 15. It is possible to enter at a fairly high speed, but
there will be a sharp turn to the right very quickly,
requiring moderate or heavy braking.  Before entering the
main Pit area, however, is a tight right-left chicane, so be
prepared to truly slam on the brakes, or else the nose of
your car will slam into the Pit Lane barrier.
Special Note: It is possible to start down Pit Lane and then
return to the main course, or vice-versa.  However, depending
on where you attempt to make this transition, you may be
given a Stop-Go Penalty.
==============================================
GRAND PRIX OF BRAZIL: INTERLAGOS
Most F1 courses are driven clockwise; built on a steep
hillside, Interlagos is driven counter-clockwise, which I
understand causes 'undue' fatigue to drivers' necks as the
race progresses.  The upper part of the course features two
extensive segments of flat-out, full-throttle, top-speed
driving.  However, the lower part of the course (where the
most clock time is spent) features tight corners and several
significant elevation changes.  However, despite these two
very different sections of the circuit, the car set-up is not
quite as key here as at Indianapolis.  Also, this is the
circuit where an advertisement billboard fell on a Prost car
in 2000.
Suggested Car Set-up:
Gear Ratios: -3
Steering Lock: +3
Front Suspension: -2
Rear Suspension: -2
Brake Balance: -2
Engine RPM: +2
Side Pod Radiators: +3
Front Downforce: +1
Rear Downforce: +1
Ride Height: -1
Rear Diffuser: +2
Note: This set-up is designed to take advantage of the lower
portion of the circuit.
Pit Straight: This is the highest point of the course in
terms of elevation.  There is no room to pull off the course
here if there is a problem with a car, as the barriers rub
against the pavement on both sides of the track.  This is
also the fastest portion of the course, leading into the most
dangerous set of corners at Interlagos.  There are several
left-hand fades along the 'Pit Straight.'  This
'straightaway' is the longest stretch of flat-out
acceleration of this course.  The optimal racing line is hard
to the left, so be careful not to rub the left-side tires
against the barriers, especially when passing the Pit Lane
Entry.  The Pit Entrance is also to the left, and cars may
enter here at top speed.
Turn 1 (S do Senna): Especially since this corner follows an
incredibly long and fast 'Pit Straight,' this is by far the
most dangerous turn on the course, and thus perhaps the most
dangerous corner in all of F1 racing.  This is a tight, left-
hand, semi-blind, downhill corner requiring severe braking
long before reaching the turn.  Unless you have PERFECT
confidence in your car's braking AND turning ability, this is
definitely NOT a place to pass!!!  For those who overrun the