Big BrooHaHa at US Grand Prix
Discussion
Hi,
After 20 cars lined up for the warm-up lap at the US Gran Prix today at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, all 14 Drivers riding on Michelin Tires pitted before the Green Flag with concerns over the safety of their tires.
All week, the Michelins have failed resulting in several crashes coming out of Turn13, most notably Raulf Schumaker.
Michelin was at a loss to explain the loss of integrity to their tire carcasses, and asked the FIA to allow them to ship fresh tires to all their Teams from their factories in France. The FIA refused citing the rules which limit the number of tires a Team may use in preparation and running the race.
Prior to the start of the race this morning, a meeting was held between the Team Managers, Drivers and FIA Officials again asking that they (FIA) reconsider relaxing the tire rule and, absent this, that a Chicane be installed coming into Turn 13 to reduce the speeds. The two-hour meeting, sometimes very animated, resulted in the FIA refusing to budge on the rule or install the Chicane.
Three Teams (6 Drivers) all on Bridgestone tires, including Ferrari and Michael Schumaker and Reubins Barrachello, continued the race after the Warm-up Lap which saw all 14 other competitors pit with their rides.
Fans booed, threw debris on the track and left in droves.
Happy Motoring!... Jim '00 Boxster
After 20 cars lined up for the warm-up lap at the US Gran Prix today at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, all 14 Drivers riding on Michelin Tires pitted before the Green Flag with concerns over the safety of their tires.
All week, the Michelins have failed resulting in several crashes coming out of Turn13, most notably Raulf Schumaker.
Michelin was at a loss to explain the loss of integrity to their tire carcasses, and asked the FIA to allow them to ship fresh tires to all their Teams from their factories in France. The FIA refused citing the rules which limit the number of tires a Team may use in preparation and running the race.
Prior to the start of the race this morning, a meeting was held between the Team Managers, Drivers and FIA Officials again asking that they (FIA) reconsider relaxing the tire rule and, absent this, that a Chicane be installed coming into Turn 13 to reduce the speeds. The two-hour meeting, sometimes very animated, resulted in the FIA refusing to budge on the rule or install the Chicane.
Three Teams (6 Drivers) all on Bridgestone tires, including Ferrari and Michael Schumaker and Reubins Barrachello, continued the race after the Warm-up Lap which saw all 14 other competitors pit with their rides.
Fans booed, threw debris on the track and left in droves.
Happy Motoring!... Jim '00 Boxster
Formula 1 has been in a steady decline for over 10 years - it's not the great spectacle it used to be, I remember as a kid watching black & gold JPS Lotus 79's, there were fantastic - Senna's debut in a Lotus, Mansell's debut in a Lotus, Hakkinen's debut in a Lotus.......remember the 'Fan Car' in the late 70's /early 80's ?? Even Colin Chapman wanted it banned ! Nowadays there's more overtaking in MotoGP, Superbikes etc - Rossi and Gibernau are what Senna and Mansell used to be in the mid-80's. Races are more than ever processions.
Yesterday though was a new low for motorsport in general, nevermind F1 in the US, which will struggle to recover from this non-event. Ecclestone has not done himself any favours.
Problem is, there are no 'easy answers' to fix F1 now, I'd ban all driver aids, have one tyre manufacturer and re-introduce the art of overtaking (easier said than done of course) - how often do we see a Mansell-Senna stand off, wheel to wheel at 190 mph ?? (one of my favourite F1 moments) - the pit lane is the place to be, as that's where all the 'overtaking' happens
Bring back the 1.5 litre v10 turbo's with 1,000 BHP.......
Jonathan 85S3NA
Yesterday though was a new low for motorsport in general, nevermind F1 in the US, which will struggle to recover from this non-event. Ecclestone has not done himself any favours.
Problem is, there are no 'easy answers' to fix F1 now, I'd ban all driver aids, have one tyre manufacturer and re-introduce the art of overtaking (easier said than done of course) - how often do we see a Mansell-Senna stand off, wheel to wheel at 190 mph ?? (one of my favourite F1 moments) - the pit lane is the place to be, as that's where all the 'overtaking' happens
Bring back the 1.5 litre v10 turbo's with 1,000 BHP.......
Jonathan 85S3NA
well i watched the race (ish) and i couldnt belive it, there are so so many ways to resolve it but always a problem with each one from somebodies angle, i felt sorry for the guy and his misses that flew all the way from manchester to watch the race, and he seemed pretty calm about it.
as for ppl saying "im going to watch motogp" i really dont get that, cars/bikes there totally different, if you like cars you generally stick to cars.
(and bikes are gay btw he he he he)
as for ppl saying "im going to watch motogp" i really dont get that, cars/bikes there totally different, if you like cars you generally stick to cars.
(and bikes are gay btw he he he he)
Hi,
Well Michael seemed to take full advantage of the situation to post his first Victory of the season.
It seems that FIA was willing to make some concession for the sake of starting a full field, but that no concensus could be reached among the Teams because Ferrari rejected every possible solution smelling a chance to gain an edge which they have been sorely missing all season. Without a full concensus from all the Teams, FIA decided to 'go by the book'.
Ferrari was the only Team which did not even attend the 2-hour meeting of Team Managers, Drivers and FIA Officials on Race Morning, and subsequently said thay would have rejected the idea of installing a Chicane in Turn 13 anyway. I believe that Ferrari knew by not attending this pre-race meeting, that they could 'Gum up' the works and gain an advantage, so it seems not to rest fully on the shoulders of the FIA.
Having said that, they (FIA) are the sanctioning body and should have conceded whatever necessary to hold a fair, and full race, as scheduled.
Tony George, CEO of Indianapolis Motor Speedway would not comment on whether the US GP would be scheduled there ever again - it is the smallest event (100,000) that is hosted by the 'BrickYard' every year - Indiananpolis 500 draws 300,000, BrickYard 400 (NasCar) draws 250,000 . George, in a press release aimed at deflecting criticism away from the Speedway, made a point to claim it was the fault of Michelin and the FIA, not the Speedway.
Happy Motoring!... Jim'00 Boxster
>> Edited by lotusguy on Monday 20th June 14:21
Well Michael seemed to take full advantage of the situation to post his first Victory of the season.
It seems that FIA was willing to make some concession for the sake of starting a full field, but that no concensus could be reached among the Teams because Ferrari rejected every possible solution smelling a chance to gain an edge which they have been sorely missing all season. Without a full concensus from all the Teams, FIA decided to 'go by the book'.
Ferrari was the only Team which did not even attend the 2-hour meeting of Team Managers, Drivers and FIA Officials on Race Morning, and subsequently said thay would have rejected the idea of installing a Chicane in Turn 13 anyway. I believe that Ferrari knew by not attending this pre-race meeting, that they could 'Gum up' the works and gain an advantage, so it seems not to rest fully on the shoulders of the FIA.
Having said that, they (FIA) are the sanctioning body and should have conceded whatever necessary to hold a fair, and full race, as scheduled.
Tony George, CEO of Indianapolis Motor Speedway would not comment on whether the US GP would be scheduled there ever again - it is the smallest event (100,000) that is hosted by the 'BrickYard' every year - Indiananpolis 500 draws 300,000, BrickYard 400 (NasCar) draws 250,000 . George, in a press release aimed at deflecting criticism away from the Speedway, made a point to claim it was the fault of Michelin and the FIA, not the Speedway.
Happy Motoring!... Jim'00 Boxster
>> Edited by lotusguy on Monday 20th June 14:21
Yep... could not make it this year and gave away the tickets.
I feel that once and for all the FIA may get the ass kicking it so needs! The teams have been wispering about breaking away and starting their own series for a while... it might be time. It would not be perfect, but it would be good for a while.
I am a lifetime fan... of open wheel in general...
For my money, IRL is on the upswing and seems to be headed for the glory open wheel had in the 70's and 80's.
Now then... if we could get a series like CanAm going again we would be in high cotton. Rolex etc is really good racing, but there needs to be greater marketing!
Drive topless!!!
Hope for a Lotus return...
Cameron
I feel that once and for all the FIA may get the ass kicking it so needs! The teams have been wispering about breaking away and starting their own series for a while... it might be time. It would not be perfect, but it would be good for a while.
I am a lifetime fan... of open wheel in general...
For my money, IRL is on the upswing and seems to be headed for the glory open wheel had in the 70's and 80's.
Now then... if we could get a series like CanAm going again we would be in high cotton. Rolex etc is really good racing, but there needs to be greater marketing!
Drive topless!!!
Hope for a Lotus return...
Cameron
Gassing Station | Esprit | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff