Sao Paulo, Brazil ? Kimi Raikkonen is known as “The Iceman,” and he more than kept his cool Sunday, winning the Brazilian Grand Prix and capturing the Formula One title in the tightest race for the championship in 21 years.

Raikkonen won his first F1 crown by taking advantage of Lewis Hamilton’s mistake on the first lap and a subsequent gearbox problem with his McLaren, combined with Fernando Alonso’s disappointing run.

The Ferrari driver took the lead with 21 laps to go, rallying from third in the drivers’ standings to win the closest title race since 1986. Teammate Felipe Massa was second Sunday.

Hamilton, trying to become the first rookie to win the title, went off the track on the first lap and earned seventh. Alonso finished third.

Alonso would have had to finish second and Hamilton fifth to keep Raikkonen from winning the drivers’ championship after his victory. There were some doubts after the race whether Raikkonen would keep the title, as Formula One’s governing body – FIA – opened up an investigation into possible fuel irregularities.

FIA called a meeting involving representatives from BMW-Sauber and Williams, whose drivers finished fourth, fifth, sixth and 10th, and if at least two of them were punished, Hamilton could have moved up to fifth and taken the title. Six hours after the race, FIA said there wasn’t enough evidence to penalize the drivers or the teams.