Fisichella declared Brazilian GP winner

Jordan driver Giancarlo Fisichella was on Friday declared the winner of the crash-shortened Brazilian Grand Prix, shunting McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen into second place.

Fisichella's boss Eddie Jordan announced the decision following a meeting of the governing body of motorsports, which goes by the French acronym FIA.

Raikkonen had previously been crowned winner of the Brazilian Grand Prix, run on Sunday in rain at Interlagos.

The race was stopped in what appeared to be the 55th lap, when Spanish driver Fernando Alonso crashed into wreckage left by Australian driver Mark Webber.

Jordan driver Fisichella was leading at that stage, but under an official countback procedure, Raikkonen was declared winner because he had been in front two laps before the race was halted.

But after review, the FIA said on Friday Fisichella had in fact won, said Jordan, who attended the inquiry at FIA headquarters in Paris.

The decision means Raikkonen now has 24 points, instead of 26, in the overall standings. Fisichella has 10 points, moving into fifth place overall.

The win was the Jordan team's fourth Grand Prix victory in 200 races.

Meanwhile, a jubiliant Fisichella said justice has been done.]

"I am very happy that the FIA (ruling body) and everybody recognises that I won the Brazilian Grand Prix," he said in a team statement on Friday.

"I already thought that this was the case and the team believed it straight away and then in recent days when the evidence was examined, we knew it was true and hoped it would become official," said Fisichella.

"It was very difficult for me with the confusion after the race and I'm still disappointed that I didn't have my moment at the top of the podium," added Fisichella, who won in his 110th start and Jordan's 200th race.

"But I am pleased that it is clear now that I have won my first Grand Prix...I'm looking forward to more podiums and wins in the future."

The Jordan driver is looking forward to starting his next race - the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola on April 20 - as a winner.

"Now I can't wait for the next grand prix because it will be fantastic to be in Italy, racing in front of fans at home.

"The atmosphere at Imola is always great and it's a few years since an Italian driver has won a grand prix so it's going to be even better this time. I'm proud to be starting my home grand prix as a race winner."

PTI, Reuters