20/07/2008
NEWS STORY
Force India driver Giancarlo Fisichella has been handed a 25s penalty following today's race, which means the Italian drops from 14th to 17th.
Race Stewards adjudged Fisichella of breaching Article 40.12 of the 2008 FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations, which states: "When the clerk of the course considers it safe to do so, and the message 'lapped cars only may now overtake" is shown on the timing monitors, any lapped cars which were between the cars running on the lead lap at the time the safety car was deployed (and also remain in that position) will be required to pass the cars on the lead lap and the safety car."
A brief statement read issued by the Race Stewards following their investigation read: "While the safety car was deployed, the driver of car 21 chose to enter the pits before 'Lapped cars may now overtake' was shown on the timing monitors. Having done so the driver of car 21 on leaving the pitlane should then not have unlapped himself."