Fisichella named winner of Brazilian GP

Giancarlo Fisichella was today declared the winner of last Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix at the expense of Kimi Raikkonen after race stewards overturned their original decision when reconvening in Paris.

The Italian, who had originally thought he won the race only to be demoted to second behind championship pace-setter Raikkonen, was belatedly given his maiden win after a timing fault was corrected.

The decision brought joy to Fisichella’s Silverstone-based Jordan team, who can now celebrate their fourth grand prix victory in their 200th race.

Fisichella, who had finished runner-up five times before last weekend’s race, has also finally scored his maiden win after 110 attempts – only Rubens Barrichello, who needed 124 grands prix, has had to wait longer.

The 30-year-old from Rome had wildly celebrated the victory after the rain-sodden race at Interlagos was ended 18 laps early when Renault’s Fernando Alonso crashed after smashing into debris left by Jaguar’s Mark Webber.

But after a couple of minutes, Finn Raikkonen was given a successive triumphs on the two-lap countback rule as he had been leading on lap 53, with stewards ruling the race had ended on lap 55.

Fisichella had swept past Raikkonen on lap 54 to take the lead and although bitterly disappointed, he sportingly accepted the stewards’ decision as did team chief Eddie Jordan.

Last Wednesday, FIA, the sport’s governing body, revealed there was evidence Fisichella had already started his 56th lap when the red flag ended the race, but this had not been known because of a timing error.

The stewards were ordered to reconvene at FIA’s headquarters in the Place de la Concorde today where the result was amended.