United States Grand Prix (Michael Schumacher wins!)

[Ed]

Top 8: Trulli, Raikkonen, Button, Fisichella, M Schumacher, Alonso, Barrichello and Sato

Full Results

Regarding the Michelin tyres, it appears that Michelin are trying to get approval to fly in tyres that Michelin believe are safe for this race. They are specifically looking at the tyre specification used for the Spanish Grand Prix. This of course depends on approval by the FIA and the agreement of the other tyre competitor Bridgestone.
Renault team boss Flavio Briatore indicated they would not race (due to safety concerns) if they weren't allowed to use those tyres for the race .

We'll post any updates regarding the Michelin tyre situation on this thread.

[Ed]

The situation with the Michelin tyres remains unclear. Michelin are still investigating the problem and until they know the reason behind the 2 tyre failures they advice their teams not to race using the existing tyres. They are flying different tyres from France however they will be breaking a number of rules if they decide to race with them.

A decision isn't expected until Sunday morning (US time)

Pierre Dupasquier, Michelin motorsport director

Following yesterday?s incidents, however, we still have work to complete before the start of the race, for the reasons outlined below. Whatever happens, I can assure you that like the other participants in motorsport Michelin will always propose a product respecting the needs of total security and independent of any rules.

Nick Shorrock, Director of Michelin F1 activities

As previously explained we are still continuing our investigations into yesterday?s tyre incidents. This consists of full examinations of all the tyres that ran on Friday and those from Saturday morning?s free practice sessions. In addition we are continuing to work at our research centres in Clermont-Ferrand and Greenville, South Carolina. As yet we have not been able to understand the reason leading to yesterday?s sudden tyre-pressure drop on two Toyotas.
During the build-up to the United States Grand Prix, engineers at our research centres will continue to focus on the product we ran today to decide if we will be able to use this specification safely in tomorrow?s race.

[Julian Mayo]

could be a ferrari 1-2,jordan 3-4, minardi 5-6no other starters

[Ed]

The FIA Post Qualifying Press Conference is available here with Jarno Trulli, Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button

[Ed]

could be a ferrari 1-2,jordan 3-4, minardi 5-6no other starters

That will make Kapel happy

Seriously, the race could be cancelled if the number of participants is below 12 (Clause 17 - 2005 Formula 1 Sporting Regulations)

Lets hope this is sorted out!

[Julian Mayo]

could be a ferrari 1-2,jordan 3-4, minardi 5-6no other starters

That will make Kapel happy

Seriously, the race could be cancelled if the number of participants is below 12 (Clause 17 - 2005 Formula 1 Sporting Regulations)

Lets hope this is sorted out!

Once again Ferrari have the chance to be heroes or villains

[Ed]

Team and driver quotes post Qualifying now available here

[Julian Mayo]

Any news on the debacle, ED?

[Ed]

Any news on the debacle, ED?

Nothing confirmed at this stage. News that a batch of new tryes were shipped to Indianapolis and should arrive later this morning however there has to be unanimous agreement if they are to be used otherwise teams using those tyres can be excluded from the race as those tyres would be considered illegal.

Any decision isn't expected until mid morning US time or even later.

[Julian Mayo]

The latest I have is that they have abandoned the idea of using Barcelona tyres, cos they will get a penalty, which could range from a drive- thru to exclusion,( FIA won,t say) Ferrari wants them to go to the back of the bridgestone runners on the grid if they do use them. The michelin runners have asked for a chicane to be built on Ralfs turn, or they will not start, Bernie agreed and Charlie Whiting is saying no way! another option I have seen is for permanent yellows on the turn, but Ferrari baulked at that too. Sources of the info were Speed TV., and F1 racing, and GP.com Tis a bloody shambles

[remeberthis1]

come on guys, lets be logical, they arent gonna ban all michelin runners from the race.. tht just would make any sense. in the end the stewards are gonna have to cave and let them use new tyres, or whatever idea they come up with... - if theres another crash and some1 gets injured, every1s gonna blame the stewards and the FIA cos it could, and should have been prevented.. and the sport gets thrown into disrepute again. no one wants that.

[remeberthis1]

FIA have just said they wont build a temporary chicance.
They wont let them use new tyres without punishment either, Charlie Whiting: ?We believe the penalty would not be exclusion but would have to be heavy enough to ensure that no team was tempted to use qualifying tyres in the future.?
The only alternative for michelin runners is to pit every 10 laps to change tyres, - the numbers of laps michelin have said their typres are safe for!!
so we could see lots of failures or drivers pitting every 10 laps.

Either way, looks like now is the time to make bets of schumacher winning the race, 5/1 odds! ive got my money on him.

[remeberthis1]

UPDATE: Michelin has sent a second letter to the FIA reiterating its request for a chicane at turn 13, but the FIA has responded firmly.

"Your teams have a choice of running more slowly in Turn 12/13, running a tyre not used in qualifying (which would attract a penalty) or repeatedly changing a tyre (subject to valid safety reasons)," Whiting replied.

"It is for them to decide. We have nothing to add."

itv.com/f1

[Ed]

Michelin are insisting a chicane is installed.

Michelin have issued the following statement:

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.

[remeberthis1]

Apparantly all michelin teams will now not race in the grand prix unless a chicane is built - but FIA is adament that no chicane will be built. so i think we'll see some Michelin runners perform an out lap, then dive back in the pits, although some teams, renault and mcclaren, wont even leave the pits.... surely the FIA will have to give in to the chicane... i cant think of anythin much worse than 120,000 pissed of yankees, all waiting to sue to asses of anyone and everyone they can. (j/k)

looks like a ferrari 1,2 - i bet schumy will be so proud to win his first grand prix in 2005 with barrichello forced to sit behind him to protect him from the threat of the jordans and minardis! oh well, at least i got some money on him lol. looks like my round next friday! unless all bets are declared void..