Barrichello escapes sanction after blocking claim

SHANGHAI, Sep 30 (Reuters) Honda's Rubens Barrichello kept his third place on the Chinese Grand Prix starting grid today after being cleared of blocking McLaren's Pedro de la Rosa in qualifying.

The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) said no further action would be taken after stewards heard both drivers at the Shanghai circuit.

''Enquiries show that as a result of a system fault, the blue lights at pit exit were not illuminated to indicate the presence of a car on the pit straight, nor was the blue flag waved at pit exit,'' stewards said in a statement.

De la Rosa, who qualified seventh, said he was impeded in the final session by Barrichello as the Honda emerged from the pitlane.

''I had to run wide to avoid a collision and it was about three corners before I was able to get past by which point my tyres had cooled off,'' said the Spaniard.

The governing body changed the way it deals with accusations of blocking after Renault's world champion Fernando Alonso was controversially penalised at this month's Italian Grand Prix for allegedly impeding Ferrari's Felipe Massa.

The FIA said only drivers deemed to have blocked deliberately would be punished in future.

Reuters AB VV1701