Fisichella may be awarded Brazil win due to timing error

David Coulthard and Michael Schumacher could receive an unexpected title boost if Giancarlo Fisichella is belatedly declared the winner of last Sunday's chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix.

The sport's world governing body, FIA, have ordered a review of the result in Paris on Friday which could see Fisichella celebrating victory instead of McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen.

A timing discrepancy has come to light which it is understood shows that Fisichella was 12 seconds into the 56th lap of the race in Sao Paulo when it was stopped after Fernando Alonso's massive shunt.

If correct, the result on countback would be determined by the running order on lap 54 when Fisichella had snatched the lead from Raikkonen.

The popular Italian initially thought he had finally scored his maiden win at the 110th attempt – and in Jordan's 200th race – sparking wild scenes of celebration with friends and mechanics.

But within minutes Raikkonen was handed a second successive victory, and McLaren their third in a row, with the race having appeared to have been stopped on the 55th lap. The result was then determined by the order two laps previously.

Championship leader Raikkonen's lead over second–placed team–mate David Coulthard would be cut by two points to nine while title holder Schumacher would be 16 points adrift instead of 18 if the Finn is demoted to runner–up.

"In terms of the championship it would have been better for us if Fisichella had won this race, especially as Giancarlo drove a good race anyway," Schumacher had admitted after crashing out at Interlagos.

Jordan said today their own evidence backed up that of FIA who have ordered the Brazilian race stewards to reconvene in Paris on Friday.

"Jordan Grand Prix has received the FIA statement concerning the result of the Brazilian Grand Prix, which concurs with the team's evidence. The team awaits the outcome of the stewards' meeting on Friday," said a statement.

A McLaren spokesperson said: "If the timekeepers are proven to have made a mistake, then any subsequent adjustment of the race result would be understandable."

TAG Heuer are the official Formula One timekeepers and have also been a long–time sponsor of McLaren whose perfect start to the campaign could be wrecked if the initial timings prove incorrect.

Results of a grand prix have been changed in the past but because a car has failed the post–race scrutineering.

"The FIA has received evidence which suggests that, contrary to the information supplied by the timekeepers at the Brazilian Grand Prix, car number 11 (Fisichella) had started his 56th lap before the race was stopped," said the statement.

"If this proves to be the case, the race classification would be at the end of the 54th lap and not at the end of the 53rd lap as published."

The scheduled 71–lap race started late and behind the safety car because torrential rain had left the Interlagos track treacherous, with water flowing across it in several places.

The third grand prix of the season was cluttered with crashes before being finally stopped when Renault's Alonso smashed into debris left by Jaguar's Mark Webber's own heavy crash moments earlier.

Spaniard Alonso still finished third but missed the podium ceremony as he was being taken to hospital although he was later released unhurt.

Webber was seventh but he could now lose the two points he gained.