Jordan Grand Prix has won its appeal to have Jarno Trulli’s disqualification from the US GP overturned. This means Jordan has leapfrogged fellow Honda-powered team British American Racing to fifth place in the 2001 constructors’ standings.
Jordan Grand Prix has won its appeal to have Jarno Trulli’s disqualification from the US GP overturned after the International Court of Appeal ruled in the Irish team’s favour at a hearing in Paris. This means Jordan has leapfrogged fellow Honda-powered team British American Racing to fifth place in the 2001 constructors’ standings.
This is the best possible outcome for team boss Eddie Jordan, who has received a lot of flak this season for firing Germany’s Heinz-Harald Frentzen under controversial circumstances before the German Grand Prix.
Trulli lost his fourth place, and three points, at Indianapolis after stewards found that the wooden plank underneath his car contravened the regulations. However, the court’s three judges accepted Jordan’s appeal only on a technicality, because, contrary to the rules, a steward was not present during the team’s hearing at the US Grand Prix.
“We are very satisfied with the outcome of the appeal," said Eddie Jordan.
Meanwhile, Jordan Honda’s new signing Giancarlo Fisichella says that he is aiming get the upper hand over new team-mate Takuma Sato and win races when he returns to Silverstone-based team next year. Fisichella visited his new team’s factory this week for the first time since he raced with Jordan in 1997.
The 28-year-old is initially expected to have the upper hand over Sato as the Formula One rookie finds his feet. However, Sato dominated this year’s British Formula Three championship and is likely to challenge the Italian at some point during 2002.
Fisichella has admitted that while he will help his new team-mate to settle in, he is not planning to blight his record of always outpacing Sato. "I haven’t met him (Sato) yet, but I hear he’s talented and has been very quick in F3 and testing," said Fisichella.
"It will be part of my job to help him as it’s his first time in F1, but at the end of the day I am competing against him just as much as everybody else. I have always been quicker than my team mate so hopefully I’ll be faster than him," he added.
During a three-year stint at Benetton, Fisichella achieved a best result of second place with the Enstone team and the Italian is intent on taking the next step to the top of the podium next year.
"My aim is to be at the top, quicker than everybody," said Fisichella. "I have come second five times and third four times so I want to win. Sometimes I think a lot about the races where I have come so close and then either something with the car or a mistake stopped me from winning, but I try not to dwell on it too much. I feel quite positive and it’s my aim to win a race this year – well hopefully not just one."