A sad day for F1
I’m speechless.
Personally, I applaud Michelin for doing what they could to convince the FIA. And the FIA? WTF. What were they thinking today?
For all of you that don’t follow F1 news… here’s the recap courtesy of ITV-F1:
Ralf Schumacher’s Michelin tyre faillure and subsequent heavy crash in Friday’s second practice session set in motion a chain of events that will have major repercussions for F1’s future, particularly in the US.
Michelin informed its teams that, due to a flaw in the sidewall construction, its tyres could not be safely used in the race.
A plan to deliver an alternative tyre design to Indianapolis was shelved when the FIA indicated that penalties awaited any teams who changed tyres after qualifying.
Instead Michelin asked for a chicane to be added at the flat-out, banked turn 13, the critical corner for tyre wear.
The tyre company said that if a chicane was not provided, its cars simply would not race.
The FIA retorted that as the tyre problem was Michelin’s own fault, the governing body could not be expected to alter the circuit to resolve the crisis – especially as Bridgestone had brought perfectly suitable tyres.
Stalemate resulted, and despite a series of meetings involving the team principals, circuit officials, the FIA, and Bernie Ecclestone, no resolution was reached.
The Michelin teams duly carried out their boycott threat, and just six cars lined up before the horrified spectators in Indianapolis’ vast grandstands.
Here's A Few More Related Posts
- No related posts
June 20th, 2005 at 7:55 pm
geez…. can ya think of how pissed off the people were who spent thousands of dollars to be there! I mean only SIX cars raced!!! how pathetic!