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Formula One farce - Indi 2005

I am appalled by the farce that was the American Grand Prix at Indianapolis. Due to tyre problems, only three teams ran. It looks like Ferrari's intransigence prevented the building of a chicane that would have allowed the race to continue.

Obviously it is Michelin's fault that they produced a tyre that was unsafe on the high-speed banking, and I'm sure they will pay a penalty - in fact, they have offered to refund all tickets for the race.

However, nine teams agreed that a chicane should be built. Ferrari did not support the plan and the FIA rejected it. I feel Ferrari should be punished for bringing the sport into disrepute.

Instead, the FIA charged the Michelin teams (McLaren, Williams, BAR, Renault, Toyota, Sauber, and Red Bull Racing), who appeared before the World Motor Sport Council in Paris on Wednesday 29th June.

The charges given were that, according to the FIA, each team:

• failed to ensure that they had a supply of suitable tyres for the race
• wrongfully refused to allow their cars to start the race
• wrongfully refused to allow their cars to race, subject to a speed restriction in one corner which was safe for such tyres as they had available
• combined with other teams to make a demonstration damaging to the image of Formula One by pulling into the pits immediately before the start of the race
• failed to notify the stewards of their intention not to race, in breach of Article 131 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations.

Article 131 states: "The starting grid will be published four hours before the race. Any competitor whose car(s) is (are) unable to start for any reason whatsoever (or who has good reason to believe that their car(s) will not be ready to start) must inform the stewards accordingly at the earliest opportunity and, in any event, no later than 45 minutes before the start of the race."

I think that instead of the shambles we suffered, the Bridgestone drivers should have been given compensatory points (perhaps eight per driver), and on safety grounds, a chicane should have been put in. We could then have witnessed a proper race which would give all teams the chance to score.

I watched the race with a heavy heart and felt sorry for the furious crowd. I am glad that the following race at Magny-Cours went more smoothly.

updated Sun 03 Jul '05   give feedback...

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: : © Mike Bliss 2009