Schumacher Stripped Of Second-Place Finish

Formula One’s governing body stripped Michael Schumacher of his second-place finish in the circuit’s world drivers championship for trying to run Jacques Villeneuve off the road in the season-ending European Grand Prix at Jerez in Spain.

Federation Internationale de l’Automobile President Max Mosley said while Schumacher appeared to deliberately run Villeneuve off the road during the Oct. 26 race, it wasn’t premeditated so Schumacher wasn’t fined or banned from any of next year’s races.

Schumacher said he also agreed to participate in a European Union road safety campaign next year. “It’s something I obviously accept because I made a mistake,” Schumacher said at a press conference following his hearing before FIA’s 24-member World Motor Council.

In a separate ruling on the same race, FIA cleared the Williams and McLaren teams of collaborating to decide on the order of finish for their drivers.