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| April 12, 2003 | Saturday | Safar 9, 1424 |
Fisichella declared Brazilian GP winner
PARIS, April 11: Formula One’s governing body overturned the result of Sunday’s chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix on Friday and awarded a first career victory to Jordan’s Italian driver Giancarlo Fisichella.
McLaren’s championship leader Kimi Raikkonen of Finland, declared the winner at Interlagos, was demoted to second place after a meeting of race stewards at International Automobile Federation (FIA) headquarters.
“I am delighted for Giancarlo, the team, Ford and all our sponsors,” said team boss Eddie Jordan.
The decision resulted from a timing discrepancy, unprecedented in Formula One history, after evidence came to light that race leader Fisichella had started one lap more than the 55 announced on Sunday.
The 71-lap Brazilian Grand Prix was stopped after two crashes left the track strewn with wreckage. Under a countback system, the winner was declared to be the driver leading two laps before the halt.
Fisichella, whose car caught fire after the race was stopped, had overtaken Raikkonen on lap 54.—Reuters
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