Hakkinen wins disputed race, world title

Salvatore Zanca

Sunday, Oct. 17, 1999 | 2:46 a.m.

SEPANG, Malaysia - Hours after the Ferrari team had received its trophies and sprayed its drivers with champagne, the organizers of the Malaysian Grand Prix had a message:

Never mind.

Mika Hakkinen was declared the winner of the inaugural race Sunday and captured the Formula One drivers' title after the top two Ferraris were disqualified.

Ferrari teammates Eddie Irvine and Michael Schumacher crossed the finish line first and second. But more than three hours after the race, they were disqualified for technical violations.

Ferrari appealed and a ruling is expected Monday at the Swiss headquarters of the International Automobile Federation. If Ferrari loses its appeal, Hakkinen wins not only the race but the world title for the second straight year.

The McLaren team said Hakkinen felt it would be premature to celebrate the title until his victory is upheld.

Formula One authorities said the bodywork of the Ferraris violated rules affecting aerodynamics and the speed of the cars.

Race officials said they disqualified both Ferraris after hearing from Jean Todt, Ferrari's team manager, and FIA, the sport's governing organization.

"The car was in exactly the same technical shape as it was in the last Grand Prix in Nurburgring, Germany," Todt said. "And this car has been scrutinized every day here."

Hakkinen's 10 points from the race give him 72 points for the season. Irvine, who thought he had a 70-66 lead entering the final race in Japan Oct. 31, still would have 60 points. A victory in Formula One is worth 10 points.

This was the first time a Formula One race was held in a predominantly Muslim country. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad was among those attending the race at the $80 million track.

Schumacher, who let Irvine pass twice, ended up about one second behind Irvine. Hakkinen came in third in his McLaren-Mercedes, 8.7 seconds behind Schumacher.

Schumacher was returning to competition after missing the last three months because of a broken leg in a crash at the British Grand Prix in July.

"Michael basically did the hard work for me," Irvine said.

Schumacher's extra fuel load enabled him to make it to the end of the race without pitting a second time.

"It was part of the plan," Schumacher said. "We took the option of one stop. It worked out just perfectly."

Just enough as Schumacher finished with badly worn tires. He led Irvine by 6.7 seconds with five laps left.

The revised finish has Hakkinen winning with Johnny Herbert, in a Stewart-Ford, second. Rubens Barrichello, also in a Stewart-Ford, was third.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen took fourth in a Jordan-Mugen-Honda, Jean Alesi was fifth in a Sauber-Petronas and Alexander Wurz was sixth, in a Benetton-Playlife.

Hakkinen needed to win the Malaysian GP with Irvine fifth or worse to retain his world crown. If Hakkinen's victory is upheld, it would be his fifth this season and 14th of his career.