F1 car race at INDY, only 6 cars

[Gary C]

Michelin has deemed there tires are unsafe at for the high G forces on turn 13, Indy might loose the F1 race forever,,,,,,,,

stay tuned

[Gary C]

The Michelin teams will not race if a chicane is not put in.

Details on Speed Channel.

[Gary C]

Nine of the ten teams have agreed to leave the pits and take part in the US Grand Prix if a chicane is installed. Ferrari are saying the decision is down to the FIA, who have said no chicane should be installed. With less an hour until the race gets underway, there is still no solution. The following is a statement from Michelin.

The intensive investigations that have been undertaken in the last 24 hours by our laboratory and technical teams in France and United States concerning the incidents that occurred on the Toyota cars during the free practice test of Friday, have allowed Michelin to reach the following conclusions.

Given the combination of oval exit speed of the F1 cars and the subsequent down forces experienced by the tyres Michelin is not able to guarantee that such incidents would not reoccur during race conditions, and therefore Michelin is not able to guarantee the total safety of the drivers.

As a result Michelin, in total agreement with our partner teams has asked the FIA that a chicane, allowing the reduction of car speed be installed at the entrance to the oval. In this condition the Indianapolis F1 GP would be able to take place with the tyres that we used during the qualification.

This proposition answers three Michelin objectives: The safety of the drivers, the support of our partner teams and the interest of the race for the F1 fans.

[Gary C]

Pierre Dupasquier and Nick Shorrock of Michelin wrote to Charlie Whiting, FIA Race Director and Safety delegate yesterday at Indianapolis explaining that the tyre company had been unable to find the cause of the tyre failure that resulted in Ralf Schumacher’s heavy shunt on Friday. The content of the correspondence was published today by the FIA

“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.”

In a formal response Charlie Whiting stated that he is surprised that the situation has even arisen in the first place.

“We are very surprised that this difficulty has arisen," Whiting wrote. "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.”



Whiting goes on to say that Michelin must inform its teams of what is a safe speed for the cars to travel through the banked turn 13 and that teams should ensure their cars do not obstruct other competitors.

Michelin’s decision to bring in Barcelona specification tyres overnight is not going to be a solution either with Whiting commenting that changing tyres ahead of the race would be ‘breach of the rules to be considered by the stewards’ but on the grounds of safety any affected tyre can be change in the race should it be needed - as normal.

Whiting also went on record to dismiss talk that a chicane should be put in at the banked turn 13 but this ‘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,” Whiting stated.

With the race start less than five hours away, it seems that the ball is now back in Michelin’s court. The alternate tyre is not an option, the chicane is not an option. The only thing Michelin can now do is to request that its teams do not drive flat out through the now infamous turn 13. Or not race.

[Gary C]

Yes only 6 cars started the race, SAFETY FIRST

[Gary C]

ferrari is now having tyre problems, sound to me the track is one of the problems.

[blackcat]

Why don't they make them run backwards? At least it might be a little interesting. This is too damn funny..............and now 2 cars have almost hit each other with one coming out of the pits........... How could that happen?????

[Gary C]

LOL, the podium might be interesting. yea, Mike should have been black flagged, looks like rules are being made by the minute. Sad day for racing and i almost went today.

[blackcat]

This rates right up there with Mike Tyson's ear bite......... Just hard to beleive!

[test user]

I am not a fan of F-1 racing, but I hate to see this happen regardless of the racing format.

[Lone Ranger]

This really sounds pretty weird to me.

[Pepe]

.....after YEARS of struggle to make the F1 popular again in the U.S. this is the end of it !!

[Gary C]

Don't know if anyone watches Wind Tunnel, good show, especially tonight, Speed Channel 9:00PM EST.

[test user]

There should be some interesting commentary on Wind Tunnel tonight.....

[test user]

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indianapolis Motor Speedway boss Tony George said complaints about the depleted lineup for the U.S. Grand Prix should be directed to Formula One, to the series' governing body and to tiremaker Michelin.

All but three of the Formula One teams withdrew before the start of Sunday's race because of safety concerns with the Michelin tires.

The only cars that raced were the Ferraris of winner Michael Schumacher and runner-up Rubens Barrichello, the Jordans of Tiago Monteiro and Narain Karthikeyan and the Minardis of Christijan Albers and Patrick Friesacher.

"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," George said in a statement.

"The FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile), Formula One 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," George added, listing the mailing addresses and websites for Michelin in Clermont-Ferrand, France, and the FIA in Paris, and the address of Formula One in London.

George did not immediately respond to a request made through Speedway spokesman Ron Green for an interview with The Associated Press.

[halicat]

the fans wern't happy.

"All three drivers were booed as they headed to the podium, the traditional champagne celebration was scrapped, and the PA announcer repeatedly implored the remaining fans in attendance not to throw debris on the track.

It matched the reaction the crowd had since the start, when they were bewildered and left pointing and gawking as they tried to figure out why the majority of the field was climbing out of their cars.

Fans booed and some threw water bottles on the track in disgust. After just 10 laps, many spectators began heading for the exits. There were reports of thousands of fans showing up at the ticket office demanding refunds, and that police had been called to keep the peace. "

[Gary C]

Bill, Didn't tyson rape that girl here in Indy?


I am pleased it couldn't happen to a better track owner,,,,Period

Sad day, funny thing is the next race is in France. Home of a certain tire manufacturer.

When it comes down to it Michelin focked up but with the OK from Michelin the FIA said the race could go on with the chicane but it wouldn't be a point race.


Somewhere I read only like a quarter of the people in the stands are from the Indy area.

[Pepe]

.......and we thought about actually GOING to the race.............BUT decided (wisely) to go on the Hot Rod Power Tour !!

Whew !

[Gary C]

The following is a join statement from the Michelin runners who did not take part in the US Grand Prix at Indianapolis.

"The Michelin teams deeply regret the position that they have been put in today and would like to apologise to all the spectators, TV viewers, Formula One fans and sponsors for not being able to take part in today's USA Grand Prix.

Following Ralf Schumacher's accident on Friday morning, we were advised by Michelin that none of the tyres that were available to the teams could be used unless the vehicle speed in Turn 13 was reduced. Without this Michelin did not consider the tyre to be safe to be used for the race.

All the teams are confident in Michelin and trust their advice as we know they are competent and responsible and their written instruction to us not to race unless changes to the circuit were made was accepted.

After final data from Michelin became available at 06.30 on Sunday morning it became clear that Michelin were not able to guarantee the safety of the drivers. Numerous discussions and meetings took place to find a safe solution to the problem. Every possibility for the race to go ahead in a safe manner was explored. The only practical solution was for a chicane to be installed prior to Turn 13 and nine of the teams were prepared to run under these conditions even forgoing championship points or by allowing non-Michelin teams to take top positions on the grid.

Unfortunately all proposals were rejected by the FIA.

Safety is always the first concern of any team and the FIA. Regrettably the teams were obliged to follow Michelin's requirements not to race.

We are totally aware that the USA is an important market for Formula One and there is an obligation for Formula One to promote itself in a positive and professional manner. It is sad that we couldn't showcase Formula One in the manner we would have liked today."

Press Release
Michelin Teams


Michelin needs a spell check

[Pepe]

Gary,
I LOVE that Smiley-DJ-avatar !! :nana2