[Doug E]

As an F1 fan I can't believe what just happened.

From a driver's safety perspective I can understand it but I still can't believe it.

From a sporting perspective I don't see how a compromise couldn't have been reached.

From a Bridgestone team perspective I can see their side of it.

This is absolutely unbelievable ... I can only imagine the damage to F1 in America will take years to repair.

How in the world did Michelin and the FIA drop the ball like this ?????????

[Mike W]

Doug,

I'm with you. Sitting here watching the "race," this is just disappointing.

I understand that the Michelin teams were unsure about their driver's safety and I do not blame them for not sending them out. I certainly do not want to see someone injured and I don't watch races to see the "wrecks" (can you tell I'm not a NASCAR fan?). However, if Michelin is not able to produce a tire that is capable of the race requirements (someone please correct me if I am misunderstanding the situation) than it certainly does not seem fair to change the track to suit the needs of those not properly prepared. I mean this is what live testing is for (which they don't do at Indy). It seems that Michelin is completely to blame (I wonder if they will be refunding all the money spent on tickets, travel, etc.).

I am needless to say, very disappointed.

Perhaps it goes without saying, but I must add that I am disgusted and ashamed of my fellow American's who felt it was necessary to throw things onto the track in a classless display of their disappointment. This is not the way "civilized" people behave and certainly an image we do not need to show the world (as well punishing the people who are actually racing). I think in the end I am more disappointed by this behavior than I am by the lack of a race, which says a lot because I was looking forward to this GP all week.

Disappointing day in all.

[Mike W]

Oh, PS. on a positive note, the Live Timing is pretty cool.

[APKhaos]

I'm just speechless. Michelin and the FIA managed to do immeasurable harm to F1 today.

[DonNewton]

Yet another reason to really, really love the French.

[Jazzbass]

OK, details. I don't follow F1, but this sounds interesting. What happened?

[BW911]

I didn't see it either. But Doug's post made me start hunting. Not exactly what Formula 1 needed to boost U.S. interest.

Here's the Rtrs story:



INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - Only six cars started the U.S. Grand Prix on Sunday after a fiasco over tire safety forced seven out of 10 teams to pull out after the warm-up lap.

The seven had earlier said they would only race if an extra chicane was installed to slow down the cars because of concern over the durability of Michelin's tires.

"This is going to leave a long-lasting bitter taste in people's mouths," Red Bull driver David Coulthard told Britain's ITV television. "Quite frankly, as a driver, I'm embarrassed to be involved in this situation.

"The fact is that mature adults were not able to put on a show for everybody. It's a very sad day for racing."

The sport's governing body ruled out the chicane while champions Ferrari were also against the idea. The six cars that started the race were those on Bridgestone tires, including Ferrari's world champion Michael Schumacher.

Schumacher's younger brother Ralf of Toyota was forced to miss the race after crashing heavily in Friday's practice when his rear left tire suddenly deflated on the high-speed banked final corner before the pit straight.

Boos rang out from the stands at the Brickyard track, which were packed with up to 120,000 spectators, as the Ferrari, Jordan and Minardi cars roared past.

"It's a big frustration for the whole team, the drivers, for Formula One in general, especially in front of the U.S. fans," said Italian Jarno Trulli who had taken his Toyota to pole position.

"But we couldn't avoid this situation -- we were in danger and we knew it. It was very clear that Michelin runners couldn't race today."



SECOND FIDDLE

Formula One has played second fiddle in the United States to other forms of motor racing including NASCAR and team officials warned Sunday's events would badly damage the sport's reputation among American fans and sponsors.

Many fans began walking out after the early laps of the race which looked certain to end with a Ferrari win, barring mechanical problems. Live television showed cans on the track, apparently thrown by disgusted fans.

"It's frustrating. The fans out there were all looking forward to this race," said Austrian driver Christian Klien. "It would have worked if the chicane had been built. But it wasn't done and if the tires won't hold up you can't race."

Williams technical director Sam Michael said new tires brought in by Michelin from France overnight after failures in practice on Friday had been ruled out after tests by the company.

"The only solution is to have the chicane...if that happens, Michelin will approve the tires to race. They will not give approval otherwise," Michael said 90 minutes before the official start of the race.

The drivers in cars with Michelin tires took part in the warm-up lap before being ordered by their teams to pull into the pits. They sat in their cars for a few minutes before getting out.

Bernie Ecclestone, Formula One's supremo, will come under huge pressure over the farcical "race" although he pointed the finger of blame firmly at Michelin.

"You can't tell people to do something when their tire company said you can't race on those tires," he told reporters on the grid minutes before the race.

Asked about the future of Formula One in the United States, and the future of Michelin in Formula One, Ecclestone said: "Not good, on both counts."

Minardi boss Paul Stoddart said he had decided to race his two cars after Jordan broke ranks over the tire issue.

"This is not a race, this is a farce," said Stoddart. "No one is going to take this race seriously today. Formula One have done some crazy things recently, this one today will have far-reaching complications. "The wrongs start at the top."

[Mike W]

Originally Posted by jazzbass

OK, details. I don't follow F1, but this sounds interesting. What happened?

Spoiler:

To sum it up as quickly as possible, the track was repaved, and the final high speed turn (banked) was too much left rear loading for the Michelins to handle. Michelin recommended to put a chicane in at the turn to slow the cars down. This did not happen. Michelin teams, to honor their contract, started the race in the formation lap and then came in to pits and all retired. This left the Bridgestone teams made up of two Ferrari's, Jordan's and Minardi's which basically turned into a 72 lap test for all drivers and they were effectively only competing with their teammates due to the varied sophistication levels of the Ferrari/Jordan/Minardi respectively.

The Michelin teams are blaming everyone but themselves and Michelin for (IMHO) not testing at the track and then not brining the proper equipment for the race. Michelin got it wrong and Bridgestone got it right and Michelin wanted the FIA to save their a$$ which it would not agree to (good for them).

Watch wind tunnel w/ Dave Despain for further details at 9pm on Speed tonight. It should be interesting.

[Mike W]

Oops, a few minutes too late.

[Doug E]

Just to add to it:

At one point in the broadcast Peter Windsor made reference to how Firestone cancelled tire tests at Indy in prep for the 500 once they realized what the repaving did to the previous tire compounds/design that had worked in the past. They went back to the drawing board and worked on it until they got it right and then held the test sessions.

Speculation could be that Firestone passed that info to Bridgestone (sister division) and that's how they were able to get the right tires to Indy (remember, no F1 teams test at Indy) while Michelin did not.

Windsor's other comment was that Nascar also scrubbed a tire test session in prep for the Brickyard 400 but he wasn't clear if that had yet been rescheduled or not.

Kinda makes you wonder what went on with the repaving and grinding ...