Giancarlo Fisichella has been reinstated as the winner of the 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix after a meeting of race stewards at the FIA's Paris headquarters.
The Italian driver won the event after new evidence supplied by his Jordan team indicated that he had started lap 56 of the event 12 seconds before the red flag was shown. Originally it was thought that Fisichella had only completed 55 laps and accordingly was not the leader 2 laps prior to the red flag incident. McLaren's Kimmi Raikkonen was awarded victory on the basis of the race lasting only 55 laps.
Jordan team boss Eddie Jordan was jubilant at the verdict of the FIA; sealing victory for the Ford powered team in their 200th Grand Prix. Speaking after the decision Jordan said: "I am very grateful to the FIA for examining the result." Jordan also reflected on the disappointment felt by Fisichella at not getting the chance to celebrate his first ever F1 win on the podium in Brazil: "It is a shame he couldn't celebrate his win on the top of the podium..."
The decision strips Kimmi Raikkonen of his second F1 win for McLaren, but team boss Ron Dennis was pleased that any confusion had been resolved: "The evidence leaves no doubt that Giancarlo and Jordan are the winners. I'm pleased that any confusion has been cleared."
Fisichella was happy at the result that gives him his first F1 win in 112 starts. Of the current field of drivers only Rubens Barrichello took longer to break his winless streak. Speaking after the decision Fisichella said: "I am pleased it is now clear that I won."
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