Dennis praise for ‘sporting’ Jordan

GIANCARLO FISICHELLA still believes that he deserved to win the Brazilian Grand Prix for Jordan, but has accepted that rules are rules and is happy with his second-place finish.

The Italian looked set to take a shock victory for Jordan in its 200th F1 race after he passed Kimi Raikkonen for the lead on lap 54. But when the race was stopped due to Mark Webber's huge accident, the results were declared at the end of the previous lap, handing victory to Kimi Raikkonen.

"Obviously I am disappointed not to get the chance to do one more lap so I could have finished first, but being second is really good for me and the team," said Fisichella.

"I thought I had won the race and I still think I am the winner but rules are rules. I would never have thought I would finish in second today so I am pleased."

Eddie Jordan was happy to see his driver on the podium, albeit not on the top step. "Obviously there was disappointment for some but this was our day," he said.

"I thought we had a chance to win it, particularly towards the end when Giancarlo passed Raikkonen. We were the quickest car on the track and it was fantastic.

"If you asked me would I have expected a podium in Brazil I would have said you are out of your mind but it happened!"

For his part, McLaren-Mercedes chairman Ron Dennis praised Jordan for his "sporting" behaviour after riding an emotional rollercoaster during the Brazilian Grand Prix. Jordan, whose Ford-powered team compete with a much lower budget to that of Dennis' championship contenders, appeared to have won the race when it was stopped on the 55th lap after a crash left the circuit cluttered with debris.

But the results were declared two laps earlier, when McLaren driver Kimi Raikkonen was in the lead, and Jordan driver Giancarlo Fisichella was left to settle for second.