Formula 1 US Grand Prix to be cancelled for unsafe tires?

[TLK]

Fan sues over Grand Prix 'race'

Larry Bowers, a Colorado resident, has filed a class action lawsuit against the Federation de l’Automobile (FIA), Formula One Group, Formula One Administration, Michelin Tires and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway following Sunday’s United States Grand Prix.

Bowers, represented by Indianapolis-based attorney William Bock III, filed suit claiming the 2005 USGP was fraudulent after 14 of the 20 drivers pitted and withdrew after the formation lap of the race because of a dispute surrounding the use of Michelin tires on the track.

The lawsuit claims Formula One, the FIA, Michelin, the teams equipped by Michelin and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway forged an agreement allowing the Michelin teams to participate in the formation lap and then exit the track prior to the start of the race.

“The alleged ‘race’ participated by just three teams did not constitute a true grand prix race under FIA and Formula One rules in that the race was started with an insufficient number of participants,” the lawsuit reads.

Bowers, who bought five tickets to this year’s race and has been a USGP ticket holder since its inception in 2000, is looking to receive a refund for the tickets as well as other costs paid toward attending the USGP.

The controversy failed to dissuade some fans from showing up today at the Speedway to renew their tickets for next year's race. Others, however, were there to ask for refunds. Speedway officials were not offering refunds, but did take note of those requesting their money back.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...S0103/50620006

Also, IMS held a press conference an hour or so ago. Not much came out of it, besides that they are working with the FIA on how to proceed. Refunds were mentioned as a possibility.

[clintl]

Originally Posted by Samdari

Actually, NASCAR does do this. They want the cars as close as possible to each other, to guarantee right races (following the NFL's parity model). Thus, if one manufacturer gets ahead of another (be it frame, engine or whatever) they impose restrictions on those cars to bring them back to the field.

NASCAR might do that, but it doesn't really work.

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by clintl

NASCAR might do that, but it doesn't really work.

And NASCAR tends to allow certain drivers more flexability in their determination of "that's racin'" than other...less marketable drivers.

[TLK]

Originally Posted by Dutch

I'm sure that makes people who travelled from all over the country and paid big bucks to go to Indy feel better knowing they can do it all over again! Right!

RAPID REFUND

Formula One's problems were Champ Car's gain.

More than 1,100 racing fans who were at the troubled United States Grand Prix in Indianapolis last week redeemed their tickets from that race for free ones to Cleveland's event.

Race organizers made the offer hoping that once fans came to Cleveland they will come back again.

``It's great that they did this,'' said Justin Yager of Greenfield, Ind., who drove to Cleveland with three friends. ``You can't blame F1 for what happened last week. It's all Michelin.''

Only six cars competed in Indianapolis after Michelin raised concerns about the safety of its tires in the final turn of the road course, prompting 14 drivers to withdraw.

and they saw a very good race....

[Dutch]

I always liked Cleveland, a great place to pass as it requires a lot of judgement on when to brake.

[TLK]

Full Statement from Michelin

Straight talk and a sincere gesture for the American spectators: It could have been an exciting race.

One week after the Indianapolis Grand Prix, Michelin wishes to make a sincere gesture of goodwill towards the people present at the GP, a group whose passion for F1 is encouraging in the development of this sport in the United States.

Therefore, on our own initiative and in total solidarity with our partners, we have taken two decisions:

1. Michelin has decided to contribute to the costs incurred by the spectators present at the circuit on Sunday June 19th 2005 by offering to refund their tickets. This is an important decision, since Michelin is not at all legally bound to do this.

Michelin deeply regrets that the public was deprived of an exciting race and therefore wishes to be the first, among the different groups involved in the Indianapolis race, to make a strong gesture towards the spectators.

2. Michelin also offers to buy 20,000 tickets for the 2006 U.S. Grand Prix to be given to spectators who were present at the Indianapolis race in 2005. We are offering this to promote further Formula One interest in the United States.

We would also like to take this opportunity to underline the fact that it is unacceptable that our partner teams have been accused by the FIA of having boycotted the Indianapolis Grand Prix. The reality is that together, Michelin and its partners have done everything possible to assure that the race could take place in total safety.

We are extremely disappointed that the proposals made with all our teams were not accepted. These proposals, including a chicane, were technically viable and totally met all safety requirements. On Sunday morning, June 19, the sporting authority had all the means necessary to preserve the interest of the race.

And yet, the sporting authority rejected the proposed solutions. Why? In our view this is totally incomprehensible and reflects a lack of respect for the spectators.

It is the spirit of respect for the spectators that brought us, with our partners, to propose solutions to allow the race to take place in total safety. It is this same spirit that leads us today to make this gesture.

Thumbs up Michelin. This is actually pretty cool of them, considering they didn't have to do anything. This will end up costing them in excess of $10 million.

[Ryan S]

Originally Posted by TheLionKing

Thumbs up Michelin. This is actually pretty cool of them, considering they didn't have to do anything. This will end up costing them in excess of $10 million.

I am fairly confident that if Michelin did not do this, the FIA would punish the teams tomorrow by asking them to reimburse the fans, and that would lead to a boycott of the French GP.

That would be a nightmare scenario for Michelin at their home race.

[Buzzbee]

Hmmm...I would have allowed the Michelin teams to use Bridgestone tires. Michelin can't really squawk since it was the failure of their tires that caused the issue. Allowing all the teams to change to a new set of tires would have resolved the 'fairness' aspect and would have resolved the safety concerns. Yes, it would have violated the 'one set' rule, but it would have been extenuating circumstances, would have been applied for all teams, and would have maintained competitive advantage (as far as I know).

Of course if there are substantial differences in the tires that would have made it unsafe or simply not feasible, then never mind.

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by Buzzbee

Hmmm...I would have allowed the Michelin teams to use Bridgestone tires. Michelin can't really squawk since it was the failure of their tires that caused the issue. Allowing all the teams to change to a new set of tires would have resolved the 'fairness' aspect and would have resolved the safety concerns. Yes, it would have violated the 'one set' rule, but it would have been extenuating circumstances, would have been applied for all teams, and would have maintained competitive advantage (as far as I know).

Of course if there are substantial differences in the tires that would have made it unsafe or simply not feasible, then never mind.

Being such specialized tires, if they make different tires depending on the race track they may not have had that many to spare.

[nilodor]

Not to mention the fact that the michelin teams would be screwed because their chassis are built around the tires.

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by nilodor

Not to mention the fact that the michelin teams would be screwed because their chassis are built around the tires.

Good point.

[RPI-Fan]

Even if they could run on the tires, how would that be fair to the Bridgestone teams? As far as I can tell, the only fair way to handle it would have been to do what they did, or to give Michelin teams a HUGE penalty for breaking the one-tire rule.

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by RPI-Fan

Even if they could run on the tires, how would that be fair to the Bridgestone teams? As far as I can tell, the only fair way to handle it would have been to do what they did, or to give Michelin teams a HUGE penalty for breaking the one-tire rule.

Yeah, I really think they should have allowed the teams to switch tires during the race. I mean, for one race, that would have been way better than what we saw.

Maybe they could have forced all the teams to switch tires every pitstop but penalize the Michelin teams with a 5-second stop penalty before they could begin work during the pit stop.

I know that's a lot of maybe's to sort out a day before the race. But still.....anything would have been better than what they ended up doing!