How Jordan gained its final F1 race on today in 2003

The Jordan System 1 staff is maybe greatest recognized for its Nineties heyday, when it gave a sure Michael Schumacher his entry into F1 and took the battle to McLaren and Ferrari in 1999. Whereas Jordan Grand Prix’s kind fell off on the flip of the millennium, it nonetheless managed one closing race win within the twenty first century, throughout a chaotic Brazilian GP on today 23 years in the past.

After its highs within the late Nineties, which noticed Jordan choose up three race wins and a handful of podium finishes, the staff was struggling in 2003. It had arguably the second-worst automotive on the F1 grid with the EJ13, and was battling points with its engines and funds – each on- and off-track.

Nevertheless, all that paled into insignificance on 6 April 2003 when a daring technique name from the Jordan staff helped it to its fourth and closing grand prix victory.

Giancarlo Fisichella certified a formidable eighth for the staff’s two hundredth grand prix begin – which was delayed attributable to heavy rain on the Interlagos circuit. When the race lastly did start, it was behind the security automotive, and this threw up a possibility for Jordan to combine up its technique. The staff referred to as in Fisichella and team-mate Ralph Firman Jr to gas them so long as doable, which put them in the back of the pack for the restart. 

Firman then suffered a entrance suspension failure, whereas Fisichella stayed out through the subsequent security automotive interval and ensuing stops. The moist circumstances continued inflicting upsets, with Schumacher succumbing to the rain and Jenson Button crashing shortly after the security automotive had gone again in following the German’s off.

After this, residence hero Rubens Barrichello took the lead from McLaren’s David Coulthard on lap 45, whereas Fisichella sat fifth for Jordan. The Brazilian quickly ran out of gas, nonetheless, which promoted Fisichella up the order as soon as extra.

Coulthard then stopped from the result in refuel, whereas third-placed Ralf Schumacher additionally dove into the pits – selling Fisichella to second. He jumped additional up the order when Kimi Raikkonen made a mistake in his McLaren, which handed the Italian the lead – the primary time a Jordan automotive had led a grand prix in additional than two years.

Raikkonen repassed Fisichella shortly earlier than the race was red-flagged following an enormous crash from Fernando Alonso, and the Fin was initially topped winner of the chaotic race.

Podium: Giancarlo Fisichella, Jordan celebrates

Picture by: Sutton Pictures

Nevertheless, Jordan appealed the end result and an ensuing FIA investigation decided that the race end result ought to have been declared on the finish of lap 54 – the one lap on which Fisichella was forward.

It marked a return to the rostrum for Jordan for the primary time because the 2000 United States Grand Prix and can be its closing of 4 F1 race wins. The staff went on to take a closing podium on the notorious 2005 United States GP, earlier than it morphed into MF1 Racing, Spyker, Power India, Racing Level after which Aston Martin.

It will go on to take six podiums as Power India, earlier than its subsequent victory got here for Racing Level on the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix. In its Aston Martin guise, the facet has picked up 9 podiums however continues to be chasing a return to the highest step.

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– The Motorsport.com Staff