Michelin teams to boycott?!?

[dando]

Check it out:

http://speedtv.com/articles/auto/formulaone/17692/


The seven Michelin teams have agreed that they will only race in the USGP if a chicane is fitted before the banked Turn 13 overnight.

:eek:

-Kevin

[racer2c]

HOLY CRAP! :eek:

[racer2c]

The only realistic alternative is that the teams opt to run “slowly” through the problematic Turn 13. That is what bemused Ferrari sources suggest they do, anyway, having indicated that there was no way it was going to happen.

:D

[Methanolandbrats]

MIchinlin parks their **** and bridgstone runs. Thems the rules. Eat it Frog doughnut boy. :D

[dando]

Perhaps they could get that crazy priest to run around on the track in turn 13 as a human chicane... :D

Ferrari's suggested remedy = :rofl:

-Kevin

[racer2c]

When we put this suggestion to Jean Todt he smiled, said he only spoke to Bridgestone and not Michelin, and made it pretty clear that he isn’t very interested in helping Michelin out of its problems.

This could very well be the nail in the coffin for 2007.

[dando]

MIchinlin parks their **** and bridgstone runs. Thems the rules. Eat it Frog doughnut boy. :D
And BE loses a hefty chunk o' change if the field ain't full. :gomer: Unfortunately, I'd rather see FTG lose that chunk o' change. :(

-Kevin

[Methanolandbrats]

RUnning on that ********* track is a disaster to begin with. The FIA is concerned about runoff, but they blow FTG and let F1 cars drive straight at a concrete wall. Then they mandate the dumbass tire rule and make things worse. Dicks..........just cancel it like Texas :D

[racer2c]

And BE loses a hefty chunk o' change if the field ain't full. :gomer: Unfortunately, I'd rather see FTG lose that chunk o' change. :(

-Kevin

He will if the ticket holders demand a refund.

[TrueBrit]

They just mentioned this on the BBC newsbreak on Radio LeMans...the description of the issue was wonderfully understated by the news reader who said that the Michelin drivers were concerned about a number of crashes this weekend, and the withdrawal of Ralph Schumacher after suffering a puncture...

Suffering a puncture? :eek:

No kidding!!

That's like Henry VIII saying that Thomas Moore would be unable to make any future public speaking engagements after having suffered a rather nasty cut......

[Methanolandbrats]

That's like Henry VIII saying that Thomas Moore would be unable to make any future public speaking engagements after having suffered a rather nasty cut...... :rofl: Ya, I'm watching qualys for the second time and I imagine all the Michilin guys were pretty puckered up for that one lap...worrying about that for race distance.........I don't think so.

[racer2c]

So, what are they going to do? Will the FIA makes amends in the name of saftey or will they stick to their guns and we have a six car race or will they cancel it all together? I think they'll let them run the Barcelona tires. maybe not include them in the points though.

[dando]

I think they'll let them run the Barcelona tires. maybe not include them in the points though.

According to the article, the tire swap idea has been abandoned:


The option of using the Barcelona tires imported from Clermont-Ferrand has in effect been abandoned. Teams decided that they had no real information about whether they would last, and also there was no firm knowledge about what penalties might ensue if they were used, although it is understood that the FIA had informally suggested that something like a 10 second stop-and-go rather than exclusion.

-Kevin

[Methanolandbrats]

Looks like Bernard has something to do tonight besides eating Viagra and counting his money. :cry:

[cart7]

Holy Crap! :eek: Track forum's server is down too! I'll bet the whole bunch of 'em are over at the speedplant right now volunteering their services as human chicanes to save the race for Tony. :gomer:

[dando]

Here's the discussion on the Speed F1 board:

http://insider.speedtv.com/viewtopic.php?t=84475&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15

-Kevin

[Methanolandbrats]

If God exists, this will be the end of Max.

[Cam]

If God exists, this will be the end of Max.

BINGO! :thumbup: It's about time the blame was layed fairly and squarely at the feet to whom it belongs! :mad:

[TrueBrit]

If God exists, this will be the end of Max.

AMEN to that!

There is something that happens to people that ascend to his position...does anyone here remember the antics of Jean-Marie Balestre?

[Dr. Corkski]

I bet Ferraristone is feeling real sorry for Michelin right about now. :laugh:

[DaveL]

Isn't this were Tony steps in and starts his own F1 series to save the USGP from boycotts?

[Jervis Tetch 1]

Isn't this were Tony steps in and starts his own F1 series to save the USGP from boycotts?
:thumbup:

[Methanolandbrats]

Is getting rid of Max worth you having to second guess making all those Pope jokes? ;) Hell ya, if Max goes I'll live on stale crackers and s***** wine for the rest of my life.

[racer2c]

The FIA just proposed one tire supplier in F1. I guess their game plan is to get them mad enough one quits.

[dando]

Here's a press release from Indy ~4 hours ago:

http://www.usgpindy.com/news/story.php?story_id=4891


The research, discussions and work were set to continue Saturday night and Sunday morning. A final decision on the best course of action to take is expected about 11 a.m. Sunday, according to Dennis. Options include Michelin specifying tire pressures, as it did in qualifying, and perhaps suspension settings, or the teams switching to a different tire specification flown in by Michelin.

-Kevin

[Methanolandbrats]

Here's a press release from Indy ~4 hours ago:

http://www.usgpindy.com/news/story.php?story_id=4891



-Kevin 11 am :eek:

[Methanolandbrats]

11 am :eek: How about packing the stuff up and shipping it to France. Seems like the best solution before they kill somebody.

[Mike Kellner]

Boy, what a weekend to be in Florida and to discover that mom & dad do not get Speed. After squawking about F1 being on CBS, now I need just that. I guess the moral of the story is, be careful what you wish for.

I'll have to read the results on the www. I am taping it for when I get home.

I am of two minds here. One half says let them run new tires so we can have a race. But the other half says, they aren't starting on the tires that qualified on, so they should go to the back, or start from the pit lane. I think it is great theater, either way. Having all the Michelin or Bridgestone teams boycott, or go to court and sue over the outcome would be highly entertaining.

Still, they do have a responsibility to put on a race with all the participants. Nobody paid F1 prices for a Ferrari vs the other Bridgestone teams laugher. Yet they have to be fair to Bridgestone. They have been on the ropes, and they showed up with a tire that is safe and Michelin did not. When you factor in the value of starting up front, just starting the Michelin teams behind the Bridgestone teams is quite a penalty. Also , the Michelin teams will not have the cars set up for the new tires, which is an additional penalty. At least it would be an interesting race. I have no perfect answer, but I would like to see everyone race on safe tires.

I think this, even more than the exploding tire on Mika's car a few weeks ago, demonstrates the foolishness of the current mind set on tires. To limit tires to control costs is to say you do not understand what makes F1 expensive. F1 is expensive, because there are several sponsors who are willing to spend huge amounts of money to win. This is only a problem because there are not enough of these sponsors to fill the field with similarly funded cars. Limiting tires just puts the stars, who are a major asset of the series, out on dangerous tires. If the current stupid tires rules get someone important hurt, it will be far worse for the sport than if Minardi has a bigger tire bill.

mk

[racer2c]

I got it! Get fire trucks out there to hose down the entire track and let em run rain tires. There, problem solved. :)

[racer2c]

Boy, what a weekend to be in Florida and to discover that mom & dad do not get Speed. After squawking about F1 being on CBS, now I need just that. I guess the moral of the story is, be careful what you wish for.

I'll have to read the results on the www. I am taping it for when I get home.

I am of two minds here. One half says let them run new tires so we can have a race. But the other half says, they aren't starting on the tires that qualified on, so they should go to the back, or start from the pit lane. I think it is great theater, either way. Having all the Michelin or Bridgestone teams boycott, or go to court and sue over the outcome would be highly entertaining.

Still, they do have a responsibility to put on a race with all the participants. Nobody paid F1 prices for a Ferrari vs the other Bridgestone teams laugher. Yet they have to be fair to Bridgestone. They have been on the ropes, and they showed up with a tire that is safe and Michelin did not. When you factor in the value of starting up front, just starting the Michelin teams behind the Bridgestone teams is quite a penalty. Also , the Michelin teams will not have the cars set up for the new tires, which is an additional penalty. At least it would be an interesting race. I have no perfect answer, but I would like to see everyone race on safe tires.

I think this, even more than the exploding tire on Mika's car a few weeks ago, demonstrates the foolishness of the current mind set on tires. To limit tires to control costs is to say you do not understand what makes F1 expensive. F1 is expensive, because there are several sponsors who are willing to spend huge amounts of money to win. This is only a problem because there are not enough of these sponsors to fill the field with similarly funded cars. Limiting tires just puts the stars, who are a major asset of the series, out on dangerous tires. If the current stupid tires rules get someone important hurt, it will be far worse for the sport than if Minardi has a bigger tire bill.

mk

Holy Crap! Are you me? I'm in Florida at my mom and dads and they dont get Speed either. My sis has satillite though and lives down the road. What part?

[Mike Kellner]

I am in Stuart, in a gated golf course community where the average age is about 128. Adelphia does not have speed as part of extended basic.

mk

[Winston Wolfe]

I am in Stuart, in a gated golf course community where the average age is about 128. Adelphia does not have speed as part of extended basic.

mk

mk

Please tell me that your parents DONT live in Del Vista Boca....

"Cuz if its good enough for the Seinfeld's.... its good enough for the Costanza's !".....

[Ankf00]

I am in Stuart, in a gated golf course community where the average age is about 128. Adelphia does not have speed as part of extended basic.

mk

heh, sounds like Texas :gomer: they've got similar carry permit laws too :gomer:

[Mike Kellner]

They do not. It is Mariner Sands.

Florida has two cultures. The North East Coasters and the Florida Good Ol' Boys. It is the latter group who legalized the Second Amendment. Where I am, the Florida Good Ol' Boys only appear to supervise construction projects. The locals are all WASPs.

mk

[Mike Kellner]

Make that three cultures. There are also the Latinos. I am not sure how they voted on concealed carry.

mk

[Elmo T]

In the Le Mans coverage this morning, they are talking about adding a chicane somewhere as a solution. Anything more on this?

[dando]

In the Le Mans coverage this morning, they are talking about adding a chicane somewhere as a solution. Anything more on this?
News @ 11. AM. ET. Not sure if that's EST or EDT, tho. I assume EST since FIndy is on EST.

-Kevin

[Methanolandbrats]

In the Le Mans coverage this morning, they are talking about adding a chicane somewhere as a solution. Anything more on this?-2 sec if you hit a cone :rofl:

[SID]

News @ 11. AM. ET. Not sure if that's EST or EDT, tho. I assume EST since FIndy is on EST.

-Kevin

Indy is one hour behind Eastern time. (Was there the last 2 days)

[dando]

Indy is one hour behind Eastern time. (Was there the last 2 days)
FIndy remains on EST during EDT, so they flip-flop between being on the same time as the rest of us ETers. The press release I posted earlier only indicates 11am, which is assumed to be local time, or noon EDT.

-Kevin

[Insomniac]

I have a soulution...Make them all run Bridgestones! :D

[jonovision_man]

I am of two minds here. One half says let them run new tires so we can have a race. But the other half says, they aren't starting on the tires that qualified on, so they should go to the back, or start from the pit lane.

Starting from the back isn't enough of a penalty... there's only 6 Bridgestone cars in front of them! You'd still have Toyotas, Renaults, Maclarens and BARS in the 4th,5th,6th row, they'd jump the Minardis and Jordans in short order (hopefully not wrecking the field in the process) and the only advantage would be a small one to Ferrari.

The rules suggest they should be excluded. Not an option when you have 100,000 people expecting a race.

Jacques sounded like he wanted to race the tires they'd brought. Seemed to suggest it was a Ralf/Toyota setup issue, and that they could work around it with the way they set up the suspension or tire pressures. Go for it Jacques. :D

Fascinating stuff, but seems awfully bush league... the price they pay for pushing the envelope of performance.

jono

[cart7]

Apparently no chicane will be installed.

FIA turn down chicane request
Sunday June 19 2005

The FIA have just released the following correspondence between Michelin and Race Director Charlie Whiting...

Race Director:

Saturday June 18 2005
Indianapolis

Charlie Whiting, FIA Race Director and Safety delegate

Dear Mr Whiting

Having analysed and fully evaluated the tyre failures that have occurred over the Indianapolis Grand Prix practice sessions we have been unable to identify a root cause.

The current rules and timescale do not permit the use of an alternative tyre solution and the race must be performed with the qualifying tyres.

Michelin has in the sole interest of safety informed its partner teams that we do not have total assurance that all tyres that qualified the cars can be used unless the vehicle speed in turn 13 can be reduced.

Michelin very much regrets this situation, but has taken this decision after careful consideration and in the best interests of safety at the event.

We trust that the FIA can understand our position and we remain at your disposal if you want any further information.

Pierre Dupasquier
Michelin Motorsport Director

Nick Shorrock
Director of Michelin F1 activities

Cc:
Bernie Ecclestone
Michelin teams
Ron Dennis (West McLaren-Mercedes)
Flavio Briatore (Mild Seven Renault F1)
Frank Williams (BMW WilliamsF1 Team)
Peter Sauber (Sauber Petronas)
Christian Horner (Red Bull Racing)
Nick Fry (B-A-R Honda)
John Howett (Panasonic Toyota Racing)


--------------------------------------------------

Letter from Charlie Whiting, the FIA Formula One Race Director, in reply to above letter from Representatives of Michelin:

19 June, 2005

Dear Mr Dupasquier,
Dear Mr Shorrock,

We have received your letter of 18 June.

We are very surprised that this difficulty has arisen. As you know, each team is allowed to bring two different types of tyre to an event so as to ensure that a back-up (usually of lower performance) is available should problems occur. It is hard to understand why you have not supplied your teams with such a tyre given your years of experience at Indianapolis.

That the teams you supply are not in possession of such a tyre will also be a matter for the FIA to consider in due course under Article 151c of the International Sporting Code.

No doubt you will inform your teams what is the maximum safe speed for their cars in Turn 13. We will remind them of the need to follow your advice for safety reasons. We will also ask them to ensure their cars do not obstruct other competitors.

Some of the teams have raised with us the possibility of running a tyre which was not used in qualifying. We have told them this would be a breach of the rules to be considered by the stewards. We believe the penalty would not be exclusion but would have to be heavy enough to ensure that no team was tempted to use qualifying tyres in the future.

Another possibility would be for the relevant teams repeatedly to change the affected tyre during the race (we understand you have told your teams the left rear is safe for a maximum of ten laps at full speed). If the technical delegate and the stewards were satisfied that each change was made because the tyre would otherwise fail (thus for genuine safety reasons) and that the relevant team were not gaining an advantage, there would be no penalty. If this meant using tyres additional to a teams’ allocation, the stewards would consider all the circumstances in deciding what penalty, if any, to apply.

Finally, it has been suggested that a chicane should be laid out in Turn 13. I am sure you will appreciate that this is out of the question. To change the course in order to help some of the teams with a performance problem caused by their failure to bring suitable equipment to the race would be a breach of the rules and grossly unfair to those teams which have come to Indianapolis with the correct tyres.

Yours sincerely,

Charlie Whiting
FIA Formula One Race Director

cc: Bernie Ecclestone
Ron Dennis (West McLaren-Mercedes)
Flavio Briatore (Mild Seven Renault F1)
Frank Williams (BMW WilliamsF1 Team)
Peter Sauber (Sauber Petronas)
Christian Horner (Red Bull Racing)
Nick Fry (B-A-R Honda)
John Howett (Panasonic Toyota Racing)
Jean Todt (Scuderia Ferrari)
Colin Kolles (Jordan Grand Prix)
Paul Stoddart (Minardi F1 Team)

Linkie thingie (http://www.planet-f1.com/news/story_19978.shtml)

[TedN]

Is there any chance this issue could be considered a "force majeure"?

Ted

[dando]

Is there any chance this issue could be considered a "force majeure"?

Ted
Yeah, lots of discussion about that on the Speed board. IMHO, this issue is the result of a mfg screw up, so I doubt that will happen.

-Kevin

[dando]

Updated article on the issue:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050619.wf10619/BNStory/Sports/


The FIA sent back a sharply worded response, questioning how the tire maker landed in this position and warning the teams that they would be heavily penalized if they changed tires. The governing body also denied use of an obstacle.

Michelin responded on Sunday, saying its teams could not use the original tires. The company supplies tires to seven of the 10 teams — 14 of 20 cars in Sunday's race — including championship leaders Renault and leading/ rival McLaren-Mercedes.

“We confirmed that with the tires on which we have qualified we are not able to sufficiently guarantee the total safety of the drivers,” Michelin officials wrote Sunday. “As a result, we reached the conclusion that we will not compete with these tires in the current configuration of the circuit.”

The FIA replied with a terse letter, refusing to budge on the issue.

“Your teams have a choice of running more slowly in turns 12/13, running a tire not used in qualifying (which would attract a penalty) or repeatedly changing a tire (subject to valid safety reasons),” FIA race director Charlie Whiting wrote.

Showdown @ the OK Corral. :eek:

No word on the 11am EST press conference. I guess we'll see what happens in ~an hour.

-Kevin

[Methanolandbrats]

Michelin blew it and it's nice to see the FIA enforce the rules. If F1 goes to a single tire manufacturer, I wonder who it will be :D

[Mike Kellner]

Michelin blew it and it's nice to see the FIA enforce the rules. If F1 goes to a single tire manufacturer, I wonder who it will be

In terms of pure sport, you are correct. Either Michelin cars withdraw, drive at 100 mph through Thurn 13 and lose, or go for it, and maybe put a car into the wall or the stands. Whatever happens, you sat, "That's racin'. It's real." and go on to next week.

But, what will the press, and people who paid to go there for an event, and are not F1 purists say? I bet they outnumber the pure sport crowd at the ticket window. What will those who paid for the circus say?

I think they have a responsibility to put on a sporting event for the paying customers. If Michelin has a safe tire, they should get to run it, and start behind the Bridgestone cars. If not, they should put up a chicane in turn 13, and allow everyone a few test laps to test the new setup it will need. F1 teams are capable of coming up with a close to correct setup if they know where the chicane is, and I bet they are working one out now, just in case. Give everyone a few laps to test, and allow/require them to add a a gallon of fuel for each lap. This is not the pure sport solution, where Michelin faces the death penalty, but it preserves an important race. A fiasco will do no one any good.

mk

[NismoZ]

I'll say they blew it...they really didn't bring the "slow" tire? Who loses their job over THAT one? So the FIA agrees with Ferrari..."run slower through 13 and don't get in anybody's way!" I love it. Oh, and "go ahead and change tires every 10 laps and we'll decide what your penalty is later!" Who said F-1 isn't exciting!? :D

[Classic Apex]

What the Michelin teams will actually do remains unclear. Some are likely to be unhappy if they have to run different tyres to those they tested all through practice, and there has even been speculation that some might simply take the start and then retire.

[EDwardo]

Michelin will not allow its seven Formula One teams race in the US Grand Prix today. This was announced by Michelin today in response of the FIA statement. The FIA refused to allow Michelin to use different tyres or to create a chicane in the final corner.

http://www.f1racing.net/en/index.php

[Classic Apex]

Michelin will not allow its seven Formula One teams race in the US Grand Prix today. This was announced by Michelin today in response of the FIA statement. The FIA refused to allow Michelin to use different tyres or to create a chicane in the final corner.

http://www.f1racing.net/en/index.php


Dear Mr Dupasquier,
Dear Mr Shorrock,

Thank you for your letter of today's date.

As explained in our earlier letter, your teams have a choice of running more slowly in Turn 12/13, running a tyre not used in qualifying (which would attract a penalty) or repeatedly changing a tyre (subject to valid safety reasons).

It is for them to decide. We have nothing to add.

Yours sincerely,

Charlie Whiting
FIA Formula One Race Director

[Methanolandbrats]

Holy sheet. Can't they just go to the Tire Rack and buy some Victoracers, they would hold up :laugh:

[Mike Kellner]

I am stuck here in Florida with no Speed, and golf on the TV. They just had a break for the latest "Sports News". It was all clips of steroid pumped hulks hitting home runs, which all looked the same to me.(Seen one, seen 'em all.) Not one mention of the US GP or tire problems. If a shoe controversy threatened a baseball game they would have stopped the Earth from turning so they could cover it better.

mk

[dando]

Michelin will not allow its seven Formula One teams race in the US Grand Prix today. This was announced by Michelin today in response of the FIA statement. The FIA refused to allow Michelin to use different tyres or to create a chicane in the final corner.

http://www.f1racing.net/en/index.php
As was mentioned in earlier articles, M can only recommend what the teams should do. They cannot determine whether they can or cannot race.

-Kevin

[Ankf00]

As was mentioned in earlier articles, M can only recommend what the teams should do. They cannot determine whether they can or cannot race.

-Kevin

they don't have to supply tires...

[NismoZ]

Here we go, Varsha, LIVE...what's it gonna be? A standoff?

[NismoZ]

Uh, who do you think F-1 has in mind for their "single tire supplier"?

[trish]

I can't believe they still haven't solved this. :rolleyes:

[NismoZ]

Well, lookie...Ferrari is taking the grid! Anyone else? Anyone?...

[dando]

they don't have to supply tires...
I'm just going off one of the quote from the M boys. They indicated that they can only recommend, but not require. We'll see. Mexican standoff or Russian roulette?

Wow, this is amazing!

-Kevin

[NismoZ]

A Michelin Man (BMW) says no chicane, no race. Yeah, like they're going to "build" a chicane in 40 min. Cones anyone?

[devilmaster]

Michelin cars taking to the track..... no chicane as of yet.

[Jag_Warrior]

No chicane = Williams ain't racing.

Well, this should be interesting...

[Ankf00]

this is funny ****. this season >>>> the past 5-8 ones in excitement... hope they make the safe determination in the end...

[trish]

This is the biggest publicity stunt since the Danica 500.

[devilmaster]

apparently, bernie told peter windsor there will be a race

[NismoZ]

Well, sounds like a compromise of some kind, all cars have been told to take the grid. Even Rubens doesn't know yet. Jackie wants a chicane...BUT...There WILL be a race! Hmmm....who got what?

[devilmaster]

chat chat chat

[trish]

The NASCAR fans at the other forums I visit are all over this. The stunt seems to be working to some extent.

[dando]

Update to the AP article on ESPN.com:


In an effort to salvage it, Michelin bosses met with Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone in a lengthy, closed-door meeting Sunday morning that ended roughly 90 minutes before the scheduled start of the event.

Several team bosses said nine of the 10 teams agreed to run if a chicane was placed in the final turn to slow speeds. Ferrari was the lone holdout.

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/story?series=f1&id=2089760

-Kevin

[trish]

I guess it's not quite over yet...

[trish]

Start and park

[devilmaster]

Rumour has it that the Michelin cars will run one lap then pit.

[trish]

They parked!!!!!!!

[dando]

Un****ingbelievable!

[NismoZ]

F-1 is awesome!

[j_d]

WOW

[dando]

:shakehead

[Jag_Warrior]

I came within a gnat's @$$ of going to this race (first time @ Indy, first F1 race). But my conscience told me not to spend a dime that might wind up in Tony George's pocket - plus I don't have time to eat most days and couldn't spare a weekend away.

Always follow your conscience.

Sucks for the fans that did go though...

[RaceCat]

Oh my god this is unbelievable! :shakehead :shakehead :shakehead

[NismoZ]

This HAS to make ESPN's worst 10 SOMEthing list!

[dando]

Sucks for the fans that did go though...
Yup. Same here. I'll never $pend a dime that goes to FTG. I have friends there celebrating Father's Day. I feel so sorry for them.

-Kevin

[NismoZ]

Man, the stands are emptying...RAPIDLY!

[NismoZ]

The "stuff" is starting to hit the track...as expected!

[dando]

Debris on the track...I wondered when that would start to happen. Let the lawsuits begin....

-Kevin

[gjc2]

Europeans have a natural ability to take a bad situation and make it much worse.

[NismoZ]

Now...the ONLY thing that could (possibly) save face for ANYone involved would be a catastrophic Bridgestone tire failure in turn 13...what a horrible situation.

[RHR_Fan]

This is weird.

On a sort of upside (if any), Jordan and Minardi will score some points. But not exactly in the way they would have liked.

~Nicole

[Rogue Leader]

A farce like this could make this the last USGP at indy!

This is the most horrible thing in racing I have ever seen, and the end of any profile F1 was building here.

[Methanolandbrats]

Michelin ####ed up. Probably the most expensive #### up in the history of sport.

[Ankf00]

who knew the rejection of the EU constitution would lead to all this? :eek:

[dando]

So I wonder what the repercussions will be for the M teams and M itself? Who goes first in quals next race?

-Kevin

[Racing Truth]

Isn't this were Tony steps in and starts his own F1 series to save the USGP from boycotts?

Now that's funny. :laugh:

'Bout the only humor in this farce. :(

[Racing Truth]

A farce like this could make this the last USGP at indy!

This is the most horrible thing in racing I have ever seen, and the end of any profile F1 was building here.

Yep.

"The Most Prestigious Championship in the World" my a$$! :mad:

[TrueBrit]

..I am sooooo glad I picked the Minardi team in this week's Fantasy F-1 game... ;)

What a complete and total bloody joke...

However, when you have had several comprehensive unknown tyre failures, and the circuit is willing to install a temporary chicane on the most dangerous section of the track, but the governing body is bloody-minded what are you supposed to do but park them?

What would have happened if they had taken part and a driver had been severely injured or killed? Who would have been to blame? Better to park them all and let the chips fall where they may...

Good going Max, great job Bernie....still think adding a second U.S. GP is a good idea?

Morons. :shakehead

[gjc2]

I really hope at least the Ferrari guys park before the end of the "race".

George

[Jag_Warrior]

Man, those people sure look mad. I hope they don't do anything crazy... like lynch Tony George. :)

[NismoZ]

See? IMS is going to get the blame for the new surface. I could see that one coming.

[dando]

See? IMS is going to get the blame for the new surface. I could see that one coming.
The lawsuits are gonna fly fast and furious after this fiasco.

-Kevin