Webber stripped of second place

It was adjudged that the Benetton Formula 1 test driver had overtaken European Minardi driver David Saelens before the startline as the race was restarted after a period under the safety car. The deployment of the safety car led to several drivers incurring stop-go penalties due to overtaking under yellow flags.

Webber appeared to have escaped punishment, but earlier today, was given a 25-second penalty. Overtaking is permitted only after the startline after a restart, even though racing speeds are allowed as soon as the green flag is waved.

The penalty dropped the former Mercedes GT driver out of the points, and elevated Jaime Melo - who was, ironically, the cause of Antonio Pizzonia, Tomas Enge and Rodrigo Sperafico receiving stop-go penalties - to second place in the race and the points standings, this being the opening round of the season.

Justin Wilson won for Nordic Racing after the early leaders were forced to undergo their pit-stops.

1 J Wilson (Nordic Racing) 53m48.503 - 10pts
2 J Melo (Durango Formula) 53m56.152 - 6pts
3 S Bourdais (DAMS) 54m05.962 - 4pts
4 D Saelens (European Minardi) 54m10.418 - 3pts
5 J Camathias (KTR) 54m15.601 - 2pts
6 F Gollin (Coloni) 54m17.070 - 1pt
7 M Webber (Super Nova) 54m17.114 (amended)