2003 Brazilian Grand Prix
The 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 6 April 2003 at Autódromo José Carlos Pace (Interlagos). It was the third round of the 2003 Formula One World Championship, the 32nd Brazilian Grand Prix and the 700th Formula One World Championship race.
| 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Race 3 of 16 in the 2003 Formula One World Championship
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| Race details | |||||
| Date | 6 April 2003 | ||||
| Official name | XXXII Grande Prêmio do Brasil | ||||
| Location | Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo, Brazil | ||||
| Course | Permanent Racing Facility | ||||
| Course length | 4.309 km (2.677 miles) | ||||
| Distance | 54 laps, 232.656 km (144.566 miles) | ||||
| Scheduled distance | 71 laps, 305.909 km (190.083 miles) | ||||
| Weather | Rainy: 20 °C (68 °F) | ||||
| Pole position | |||||
| Driver | Ferrari | ||||
| Time | 1:13.807 | ||||
| Fastest lap | |||||
| Driver | Rubens Barrichello | Ferrari | |||
| Time | 1:22.032 on lap 46 | ||||
| Podium | |||||
| First | Jordan-Ford | ||||
| Second | McLaren-Mercedes | ||||
| Third | Renault | ||||
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Lap leaders | |||||
The race was scheduled to run for 71 laps, but was stopped on lap 56 after two major crashes blocked the circuit. Due to confusion about the timing of the red flag, the win was initially awarded to Kimi Räikkönen of McLaren, with Giancarlo Fisichella of Jordan in second and Fernando Alonso of Renault in third. However, following a post-race appeal by the Jordan team, eventually heard in court, it was established that Fisichella was leading when the race results were declared, and he was awarded the win with Räikkönen demoted to second. Alonso remained in third place; he had missed the podium ceremony at the time as he was receiving medical attention. It was attended by 120,000 spectators.
The race was Fisichella's first Grand Prix victory. It was also Jordan's fourth and final victory, and the team's 200th Grand Prix. This was the first victory for a Ford engine since the 1999 European Grand Prix, and the first victory for an Italian driver since Riccardo Patrese won the 1992 Japanese Grand Prix. This was also the last victory for a Ford-powered car to date, and marked the last time the Brazilian Grand Prix was held during the opening rounds of a Formula One season.