Fisichella was leading the race at Interlagos when it was stopped 18 laps early after Mark Webber’s Jaguar was left a one-wheel shell by a spectacular crash then Renault’s Fernando Alonso smashed into debris left by the Australian’s car and hurled into a tyre wall.

Raikkonen was handed the victory because the classification when a race is red flagged is determined by the running order two laps earlier.

The victory – maintaining McLaren’s perfect start to the season after another thrilling race that again breathed new life into Formula One – gave Raikkonen an 11-point lead over team-mate David Coulthard who could so easily have won.

But he insisted: “Things are looking good at the moment as I am leading with more points, but it is too early to say where we are going to finish in the championship. But it is good to win two in a row.

“I know what it feels like to lose a race with a couple of laps to go. I didn’t know that I had won at first and maybe we were lucky but a win is a win and that is all that matters.”

Fisichella, who started the scheduled 71-lap race eighth, spent several minutes celebrating with Jordan mechanics and friends only for the reality to suddenly become apparent, though he took the massive disappointment with good grace.

“We really believed we had won and it was an amazing moment but unfortunately it only lasted a couple of minutes,” said the Italian.

“But I finished second and that is a fantastic result.”

It was the sixth time that Fisichella had finished second though it was still a stunning result for Eddie Jordan’s team but tempered by a third suspension failure that sent rookie Ralph Firman helplessly skidding into the Toyota of Olivier Panis.

“We were 50 seconds from glory,” said Eddie Jordan, denied a fourth victory for his team. “We could have won the race had it not been stopped with the strategy we had.

“I would have had to eat my words as I told my fellow team bosses recently that we would never again see a privateer team win in Formula One.

“It could have been a fairytale. But if someone had told me we would have been on the podium here I would have had them certified in an institution.

“It must be heartbreak for Giancarlo, I think I felt more for him than anyone. We have all witnessed winning and Giancarlo must be the most talented driver ever in the history of grand prix not to have won a race.”

Alonso was classified third but missed the podium ceremony having been eased into an ambulance after his massive shunt which forced him to limp from the shattered cockpit and he was later taken to a local hospital for a check-up though the team said he had no physical injuries.

Webber suffered cuts and bruises to his neck and legs but was lucky to escape lightly after smacking into the barrier when his car skidded out of control on water left by the pre-race downpour.

The rain had delayed the start by 15 minutes and forced the rare sight of the race starting under the safety car.