From GMM
Widespread confusion about Sunday's grid for the Japanese grand prix has finally ended, and the big winner was Rubens Barrichello.
The Brazilian was penalised five grid places by the stewards for ignoring yellow flags in qualifying, but actually Barrichello started sixth, just one place lower than his qualifying allocation.
At the same time, while just two places behind Barrichello in qualifying, and receiving the same five grid demotion, championship leader Button dropped to tenth place.
The grid gap between the Brawn duo was therefore increased from two to four places, due to a complicated system whereby the grid is determined in the event of multiple penalties.
The grid is shuffled in the order the offences were committed, rather than all penalties being applied at the same time.
However, the governing body is being criticised in some quarters for allowing the confusion and misreporting to last so long, after FIA officials left the Suzuka circuit on Saturday night declaring that the actual grid order would only be published in the morning.
It was already being widely reported that Barrichello would start the race as low as tenth, with Button - who needs 5 more points than his teammate to seal the title on Sunday - in about 12th.
Widespread confusion about Sunday's grid for the Japanese grand prix has finally ended, and the big winner was Rubens Barrichello.
The Brazilian was penalised five grid places by the stewards for ignoring yellow flags in qualifying, but actually Barrichello started sixth, just one place lower than his qualifying allocation.
At the same time, while just two places behind Barrichello in qualifying, and receiving the same five grid demotion, championship leader Button dropped to tenth place.
The grid gap between the Brawn duo was therefore increased from two to four places, due to a complicated system whereby the grid is determined in the event of multiple penalties.
The grid is shuffled in the order the offences were committed, rather than all penalties being applied at the same time.
However, the governing body is being criticised in some quarters for allowing the confusion and misreporting to last so long, after FIA officials left the Suzuka circuit on Saturday night declaring that the actual grid order would only be published in the morning.
It was already being widely reported that Barrichello would start the race as low as tenth, with Button - who needs 5 more points than his teammate to seal the title on Sunday - in about 12th.