Sport: Formula 1 - The Indianapolis fiasco... who's to blame?
Sunday, 19 June 2005, will be a date long remembered in Formula 1 circles (as well as motor racing circles in general) for all the wrong reasons. I, for one, was left speechless at the absolute idiocy of the powers that be that culminated in a race of six cars. 73 laps came and went with the same question repeating over and over in my head: "How in heaven's name could this have happened?
After Ralf Schumacher and Pedro de la Rosa (Toyota) crashed out in the second free practice session on Friday, their tyre supplier, Michelin, initially instructed all other teams to increase their rear-tyre pressure in the interests of safety and this was done for the purposes of qualifying. Ironically, Jarno Trulli achieved the first pole position for none other than the Toyota team... and then began the problems.
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/56774.asp
Subsequently, Michelin forbade any of the teams racing on their tyres from taking part in the race as it stood. They explained that weaknesses similar to those that led to Toyota's woes in free practice had been found on inspection of a further nine cars. So what to do? Initially Michelin requested to fly in 'appropriate tyres' from France to replace the defective ones. This would have have contravened 5 FIA regulations - the FIA refused. So Michelin, seeking a compromise, said they would give their blessing to their tyres being used in the race if a chicane was put in place in turn 13. According to team sources, 9 out of the 10 teams agreed to this - Ferrari held out. Michael Schumacher had, after all, suffered tyre failures in Barcelona and accepted this as being 'part of racing'. There were two predominant options posed: 1. Race as is, and advise all Michelin runners to take appropriate precaution (slow down) through turns 12 and 13... Michelin refused, or 2. Install the chicane and deny championship points to all Michelin runners... apparently this was met with more approval from the teams - the FIA refused.
Why could no compromise be reached? In 1985 the Belgian Formula 1 Grand Prix was postponed due a breaking up of the track surface. The race was eventually run in September of that year. Did noone suggest to postpone the US Grand Prix in the same way?
http://www.pitstop.com.my/circuits/default.asp?id=105&year=2005&cat=F1
So who's to blame? What are the implications?
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway released this press statement:
Official Statement of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway shares in the disappointment with the loyal fans of IMS and Formula One that we did not see the exciting race we all anticipated due to circumstances beyond our control.The FIA, Formula One, the constructors and manufacturers that represent the cars on the starting grid made decisions on an individual basis to limit participation in today’s USGP.We suggest the fans who wish to make their feelings known, contact the following:
Michelin
46, rue du Ressort
63100
Clermont-Ferrand
France
www.michelinsport.com
FIA
8 Place de la Concorde
F-75008
Paris
www.fia.com
Formula One Management
6 Princes Gate
Knightsbridge
London
SW7 1QJ
United Kingdom
https://imstix.brickyard.com/inettix/OnlineTicketing.aspx
It's rather obvious who they hold accountable, but will those who came to watch the race be given a refund? (US$85 for the race day, and US$25 for each of the practice- and qualifying days.) It must be said that these amounts pale in comparison for other expenses incurred by fans coming from as far afield as Panama, Mexico and Colombia.
Michelin's statement on it's website reads:
Sunday June 19 2005United States F1 Grand Prix
Michelin puts the accent on safety at the United States Grand Prix
Michelin is very disappointed about the way the United States Grand Prix turned out at Indianapolis today, for the public, the drivers and the teams.
Michelin is sorry that the tyres it ran in free practice and qualifying were not suitable for use in racing conditions this weekend, but driver safety is always a priority. Michelin will never change its stance on this principle, whether we are talking about tyres for competition or any other purpose.
It is regrettable that our pre-race suggestions, agreed in conjunction with our partner teams, were not adopted. Had our ideas been followed, we could have guaranteed driver safety, the participation of our teams and added interest for the public.
Michelin would like to thank its seven partner teams for their close collaboration, for having made propositions to the FIA and for having respected our advice on safety issues.
Michelin will continue to investigate the technical reasons for the tyre-related incidents that affected Toyota during Friday’s free practice.
As for the FIA, they merely repeated their original statement on their website:
http://www.fia.com/mediacentre/Press_Releases/FIA_Sport/2005/June/200605-01.html
So where does that leave Formula 1 in the United States?
The fans aren't happy:
"Larry Bowers, a Colorado resident, has filed a class action lawsuit against the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), Formula One Group, Formula One Administration, Michelin Tires and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway following Sunday’s United States Grand Prix..."
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050620/SPORTS0103/50620006/1052/SPORTS01
The drivers, present and past, aren't happy:
“I feel terrible. I have a sick feeling in my stomach. I am embarrassed to be a part of this. I wish we could have found a solution that had us out here on the racetrack.” - David Coulthard
http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/news/story.php?story_id=4899
"...we have surely seen the end of F1 in the United States." - Nigel Mansell
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/othersports.html?in_article_id=353016&in_page_id=1781
Exactly how much damage this episode has done to the world of Formula 1 remains to be seen, but one thing is certain, Formula 1 was the biggest loser. This has put a huge stain on what was playing out as the most competitive season in many years.
After Ralf Schumacher and Pedro de la Rosa (Toyota) crashed out in the second free practice session on Friday, their tyre supplier, Michelin, initially instructed all other teams to increase their rear-tyre pressure in the interests of safety and this was done for the purposes of qualifying. Ironically, Jarno Trulli achieved the first pole position for none other than the Toyota team... and then began the problems.
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/56774.asp
Subsequently, Michelin forbade any of the teams racing on their tyres from taking part in the race as it stood. They explained that weaknesses similar to those that led to Toyota's woes in free practice had been found on inspection of a further nine cars. So what to do? Initially Michelin requested to fly in 'appropriate tyres' from France to replace the defective ones. This would have have contravened 5 FIA regulations - the FIA refused. So Michelin, seeking a compromise, said they would give their blessing to their tyres being used in the race if a chicane was put in place in turn 13. According to team sources, 9 out of the 10 teams agreed to this - Ferrari held out. Michael Schumacher had, after all, suffered tyre failures in Barcelona and accepted this as being 'part of racing'. There were two predominant options posed: 1. Race as is, and advise all Michelin runners to take appropriate precaution (slow down) through turns 12 and 13... Michelin refused, or 2. Install the chicane and deny championship points to all Michelin runners... apparently this was met with more approval from the teams - the FIA refused.
Why could no compromise be reached? In 1985 the Belgian Formula 1 Grand Prix was postponed due a breaking up of the track surface. The race was eventually run in September of that year. Did noone suggest to postpone the US Grand Prix in the same way?
http://www.pitstop.com.my/circuits/default.asp?id=105&year=2005&cat=F1
So who's to blame? What are the implications?
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway released this press statement:
Official Statement of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway shares in the disappointment with the loyal fans of IMS and Formula One that we did not see the exciting race we all anticipated due to circumstances beyond our control.The FIA, Formula One, the constructors and manufacturers that represent the cars on the starting grid made decisions on an individual basis to limit participation in today’s USGP.We suggest the fans who wish to make their feelings known, contact the following:
Michelin
46, rue du Ressort
63100
Clermont-Ferrand
France
www.michelinsport.com
FIA
8 Place de la Concorde
F-75008
Paris
www.fia.com
Formula One Management
6 Princes Gate
Knightsbridge
London
SW7 1QJ
United Kingdom
https://imstix.brickyard.com/inettix/OnlineTicketing.aspx
It's rather obvious who they hold accountable, but will those who came to watch the race be given a refund? (US$85 for the race day, and US$25 for each of the practice- and qualifying days.) It must be said that these amounts pale in comparison for other expenses incurred by fans coming from as far afield as Panama, Mexico and Colombia.
Michelin's statement on it's website reads:
Sunday June 19 2005United States F1 Grand Prix
Michelin puts the accent on safety at the United States Grand Prix
Michelin is very disappointed about the way the United States Grand Prix turned out at Indianapolis today, for the public, the drivers and the teams.
Michelin is sorry that the tyres it ran in free practice and qualifying were not suitable for use in racing conditions this weekend, but driver safety is always a priority. Michelin will never change its stance on this principle, whether we are talking about tyres for competition or any other purpose.
It is regrettable that our pre-race suggestions, agreed in conjunction with our partner teams, were not adopted. Had our ideas been followed, we could have guaranteed driver safety, the participation of our teams and added interest for the public.
Michelin would like to thank its seven partner teams for their close collaboration, for having made propositions to the FIA and for having respected our advice on safety issues.
Michelin will continue to investigate the technical reasons for the tyre-related incidents that affected Toyota during Friday’s free practice.
As for the FIA, they merely repeated their original statement on their website:
http://www.fia.com/mediacentre/Press_Releases/FIA_Sport/2005/June/200605-01.html
So where does that leave Formula 1 in the United States?
The fans aren't happy:
"Larry Bowers, a Colorado resident, has filed a class action lawsuit against the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), Formula One Group, Formula One Administration, Michelin Tires and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway following Sunday’s United States Grand Prix..."
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050620/SPORTS0103/50620006/1052/SPORTS01
The drivers, present and past, aren't happy:
“I feel terrible. I have a sick feeling in my stomach. I am embarrassed to be a part of this. I wish we could have found a solution that had us out here on the racetrack.” - David Coulthard
http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/news/story.php?story_id=4899
"...we have surely seen the end of F1 in the United States." - Nigel Mansell
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/othersports.html?in_article_id=353016&in_page_id=1781
Exactly how much damage this episode has done to the world of Formula 1 remains to be seen, but one thing is certain, Formula 1 was the biggest loser. This has put a huge stain on what was playing out as the most competitive season in many years.
posted by Icarus at 9:54:00 AM
2 Comments:
Michelin screwed up, end of story. That they couldn't provide adequate tyres for the event was scandalous. The mere fact that the FIA offered 3 different scenarios under which the Grand Prix could have gone ahead, and all three were dismissed by Michelin, shows who was trying to get a race out of things and who was stonewalling. Should there have been a problem of a magnitude that affected all teams, then yes, postponements and so on could be looked at. Fact of the matter is that it was only the Michelin runners who were unable to compete in performance terms, and quite rightly the FIA refused any option that would have the Bridgestone runners at a disadvantage they didn't deserve.
Blame Michelin, no-one and nothing else.
There were two suggestions from the FIA:
1) Slow down/limit speed into turn 13
2) Pit every 10 laps
I won't even go into why the first is a problem as anyone with half a brain should be able to work that out. Why did Michelen refuse the second is on the basis of competitive advantage and the fact that the teams did not have an endless supply of tyres (about 8 sets) so they would have had to retire.
In short the suggestions from the FIA were at best stupid.
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