April 2, 2001 

Mark Webber has lost his second place (but was not disqualified from the race) in the opening round of the 2001 FIA International Formula 3000 Championship at Interlagos, Brazil on Saturday (March 31) following a lengthy post-race Stewards hearing.   

A 25-second penalty was slapped on the Super Nova driver almost three hours after the race for a rule infringement which saw Webber just 5/100ths of a second ahead of the European Minardi driver, David Saelens, as the two cars crossed the timing beacon for the restart of the race. The penalty dropped Webber to seventh position.   

Three other drivers were issued with stop/go penalties during the race for more deliberate overtaking manoeuvres while the race was under the control of the Safety Car. 

"We weren't in that league but rules are rules," said Webber afterwards, "There was no grey area - the timing showed I was 5/100ths of a second ahead of another car when we went green again although it was impossible to visually judge that at the time. 

"The Safety Car had pulled off and I had just come out of a tow after the kink on the front straight. The tow worked extremely well - obviously too well - and caught me out by a fraction. It was extremely close and the stewards agreed with the case I put to them but the rules are in black and white and we accept their decision." 

Webber has now returned to Europe to prepare for his latest Benetton test at Jerez, Spain later this week before round two of the FIA International F3000 Championship at Imola on April 14. 

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