As I understand it, Michelin sent an urgent message to all teams running their tires, saying it was basically unsafe to run their softwall tire at INDY. One blew in qualifying and they didn't want to see anyone killed.
Therefore the teams had no choice but to not run, because if they did run knowing that info, and if they killed their driver, another driver, or an innocent spectator or crewman, then all hell would break loose.
Michelin was going to immediately ship some more tires for the race, but FIA in the meantime said "you must run what you brought, or not at all", so after the first parade lap, something like twenty two (22) cars came in and parked, while only six running Bridgestones, Goodyear, and whatever, ran the race. Ha ha, just one more FUCK up from the French.
Personally, I'll neve ever buy another Michelin tire. The French are no friend of the USA anyway, and as long as there are good alternatives, I'm not selling out and buying anything from France.
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INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - U.S. Grand Prix organisers said they were considering the future of the Formula One event at Indianapolis after angry fans witnessed a 'race' of just six cars on Sunday.
"We are as disappointed as we've ever been in hosting an event here," Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Joie Chitwood told reporters.
"We pride ourselves on what we do and that's to be an international leader in motorsports entertainment. Today had nothing to do with being a leader of motorsports.
"We'll be evaluating our position on what's going to happen in the future," he added.
The famed Brickyard, home of the Indy 500, has hosted a grand prix since 2000 and an estimated 120,000 people bought tickets for Sunday's race. There is one year remaining on the contract.
Sunday was blighted after seven of the 10 teams pulled into the pit lane after the formation lap and did not race because of concern about their Michelin tyres.
The teams had pleaded in vain for an extra chicane before the final banked corner to slow down the cars after Michelin said they could not otherwise guarantee the tyres would withstand more than a few laps.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway chief executive Tony George had earlier issued a statement listing the addresses of Michelin, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) ruling body and Bernie Ecclestone's Formula One Management for angry fans to complain to.
HOLLOW WIN
Fans threw bottles and cans on the track during the race and many booed and whistled during the podium ceremony, some chanting "Bullshit, Bullshit".
Ferrari's Michael Schumacher was the winner, ending the champion's run of nine races without success with the most hollow victory of his career.
Chitwood, said he and the Speedway authorities were "monumentally disappointed" and surprised as anyone by the events of the day.
He said he could not recall any event at the circuit where fans had been as outraged.
"To say it's a disappointment is an understatement," Chitwood declared, before expressing how damaging the day's events were for the race's future.
"No-one at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is proud of what occurred today," he added.
"Undoubtedly this sets us back in all of our efforts or all of the gains we've made in introducing this sport to America. I would say it is a major setback.
"I can tell you this, we feel as victimised as the fans do in what they witnessed today.
"I think there is a responsibility to be prepared for this event. We did our best in three weeks to convert from an oval track to a road course and we were prepared for this event. I wish everyone had been prepared for this event.
"Obviously not everyone was prepared today and I think that's inexcusable."
Posted by: 3SuperSports
I read about that this morning. I was too busy Sunday to watch the race as I had hoped. I'm glad I didn't spend big $$ and go.
Posted by: IROC_ZO6
fuck em. let them have thier piece of shyt tyres.
Posted by: No Rice Allowed
Quote:
Originally Posted by IROC_ZO6
fuck em. let them have thier piece of shyt tyres.
yeah it's time they race on Cooper's...
Posted by: Geargrabber
At least it was responsible. Wasn't there some way to get good tires for all the cars, even if they had to bend the rules a bit for an unusual situation?
Posted by: GT-Treb
I am pissed cause I was one of the fans that got ripped off. I don't care whose fault it is, ahemm...some French tire maker is my prime suspect, but there is no excuse, and I mean no excuse not to put on the show for the fans. Six cars, 2 Ferrari's, 2 Jordans and 2 Minardi's was all that was on the track when the race started. That meant the race was over as the Ferrari's quickly pulled away from the inferior cars and never looked back. We left after the first pits cycled through. What a farse! F1 most likely is done in the US market which is a shame, but looking at what the FIA has done with the rules the past few years I am starting to think who cares. I am a racing nut, so I can find another discipline of racing to make a big race weekend out of.
On a side note, aside from the race the rest of the weekend was great. The Ferrari Club of America was there and I got some decent pics. I will post em up here in a bit when I can get the size down to be online friendly.
Posted by: Mr. P
Quote:
Originally Posted by Geargrabber
At least it was responsible. Wasn't there some way to get good tires for all the cars, even if they had to bend the rules a bit for an unusual situation?
Way too much liability.
You see, the timing was all off.
Everyone qualified with tires, one Michelin blew and it's lucky someone didn't get killed.
It was too late to ship a new shipment of tires in from anywhere. If you slapped new tires on a car, and the drivers didn't know how they handled, they could all go out there and kill themselves and someone else too. Therefore, the FIA to say "you must race on what you qualified with, or not at all", was the right way to go. Michelin just got caught with their French panties down around their ankles. Some stunt, eh?
Mr. P
Posted by: VETTKLR
Poor Michelin.
They're damned if they do, damned if they don't in P's eyes.
Posted by: KingofSlackers
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. P
Personally, I'll neve ever buy another Michelin tire. The French are no friend of the USA anyway, and as long as there are good alternatives, I'm not selling out and buying anything from France.
I agree with that statement..... they don't want to help us but they sure don't mind taking our money...
Posted by: VETTKLR
What the fuck has China done for us lately??? Just because they're fuckin pussies doesn't mean they can't make a helluva tire.
Posted by: JustaV6
yea i caught that story last night... i'd be pissed off if i was there too... but i sure wouldnt throw shit onto the track like some of the idiots were doing
Posted by: MadScientistMatt
Quote:
Originally Posted by VETTKLR
Poor Michelin.
They're damned if they do, damned if they don't in P's eyes.
Well, regulations state that they should have brought a set of backup tires that trade speed for durability. They didn't.
Still, once they realized those tires were unsafe, I'd say Michelin made the right call.
Posted by: GT-Treb
I still won't buy Michelin's but they had a press release today that I can somewhat live with. Seem's that Michelin's bosses are taking responsibility for this mess and are going to refund the peeps that bought a ticket for that farse. Also part of the deal is they are going to buy your ticket for next years race. Now, they may be saying this now knowing full well that F1 won't be back in the U.S. next year, but I will wait and see on that.
