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Jim Watt wrote: Clearly what happened .. was that the Michelin teams threatened to pull after the parade lap unless they got their way and, rather than publishing their outrageous and wholly ridiculous demand, Bernie decided to call their bluff without notifying the fans. I'd like to think Bernie was simply stupid and didn't realize that by not telling the fans he made it possible for Michelin and the team bosses to do exactly what they HAVE done: claim he (Bernie) is indifferent to driver safety. In fact, of course, Bernie cares no more for driver (or fan) safety than do the Team principals and manufacturers: all of them are indifferent to everything (including the fans) but their own bottom line! When I hear this kind of pious nonsense coming from companies and team principals who routinely risk test drivers' safety every week of the season, I have to gag mightily.

Well, that's a bit unfair on the Michelin teams, I think, given that the FIA refused to let them switch tires without penalty, and would not say in advance (read Charlie Whiting's letters to Michelin) what the penalty would be if tires were switched; Whiting's letters indicated penalties up to disqualification were possible.

The Michelin teams couldn't really go out on the original tires if their tire manufacturer said the tires weren't safe; if there had been a bad crash as a result of a tire failure, the PR/legal consequences would have been horrendous for them (not to mention that they might actually care a microscopic amount about the health of their drivers).

But I agree with your general point, about the money... and the fans got the shaft (as usual).

FiA had also indicated that there was the possibility if Michelin went out with the original tyres,that they could be disqualified for knowingly sending out a dangerous car.

Jim Watt wrote:I ask you now, when people are saying it was Michelin's fault, Bridgestone's fault, the Team Manager's fault, the drivers' fault, how is it that no one is saying it is Mr. E's fault?
...
when I logged on a few minutes ago, I could find no drivers' interview posted. Was that because they were embarrassed to even have one?

No, they did have interviews - I saw them on Speedvision.

As to the blame, it appears to me that there's blame to go around (although I think there's still some facts we are missing - e.g. which team it was that wouldn't go along with the solutions mention in the Michelin statement - I don't know if it was Ferrari because on the Speedvision coverage on Saturday they said that Ferrari had suggested exactly one of the solutions mentioned in the Michelin statement - putting all the Michelin runners on the grid behind the Bridgestone runners).

Yes, Michelin made a mistake (albeit an unintentional one) when they brought flawed tires - and they are going to to get a lot of heat because of that. As for the teams, as I said in a previous post, it's not clear that the teams had any choice, once their tire supplier told them the tires were no good. And of course the drivers had no choice at all.

The people I blame most are the FIA; this was a real safety issue (two real, public tire failures), so they should have done something a little more than stand by the rules with bureacratic rigidity and an "it's not my problem, jack" attitude. (I don't know what Bernie's role in this was, if any, so I can't comment on him.)

Anyway, how would allowing Michelin to use the Spanish tires have given Michelin an advantage? With the competitiveness levels in F1, if they were faster, they'd have brought them to begin with. I don't think this was all some devious plot by Michelin to be allowed to switch tires after qualifying - heck, they have a PR black eye from this that far outweighs any potential gains from a race win.

But clearly somebody decided to play chicken, and nobody swerved - with the fans in the middle of the collision.

lemon_martini2 wrote:FiA had also indicated that there was the possibility if Michelin went out with the original tyres,that they could be disqualified for knowingly sending out a dangerous car.

Oh, I hadn't though of that - that's the icing on the cake. Let's see: Option 1, go out with the original tires and be DQ'd for sending out a dangerous car; Option 2, go out with the Spanish tires and be DQ'd for sending out unapproved equipment! Pfui. Talk about Catch-22...

jnc wrote:Err, the Michelin press release

Ooops, that was the Michelin teams' press release (sorry, got them mixed up, and couldn't edit the post as someone had already replied to it).

Team and driver quotes following the race are now available here

The FIA post race press conference is also available here

I just came home from Indy. What a sham & shame...

I don't really understand the buidling of a chicane - what were they going to do - make us wait the 3-4 hours it would take to build?

As happens with most surprising incidents everyone went from confusion to shock to anger (me included). After the start many people started leaving; me and my friends decided (like some people I think) to take this opportunity to walk around and see the track from various spots. After about an hour of this we left - there were 55 laps "raced".

One thing I do know is blame was given to everyone by the fans since none of us knew what was going on.

I do side with the Michelin runners though - if things weren't safe - as Ralf's accident and withdrawal show - then something had to be done. This was lacked the one thing that makes it watchable - drama.

My apologies if this has been asked before, but I just couldn't wade through 25 pages of comments. Does anyone have an email address for the FIA? There isn't one on their official website. Thanks.

jnc wrote:

Andre_Brasil wrote:Sorry, Rememberthis1 and Julian, but I insist in my point: If it were the Brigestones that were failing?

None of the proposals I've seen would compensate the Bridgestones teams. This is not how you should negotiate... if you are in a situation of disadvantage you should offer something to try to solve the problem.

Err, the Michelin press release said: "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." Note the "even forgoing championship points or by allowing" etc.

So unless Michelin is flat-out lying here, they (well, their teams, actually - I doubt it was Michelin's call) were in amenable to doing something to recognize that Michelin had screwed up, and that would have some consequences.

Well, I am in the US watching the Speed channel since 8am (24h of Le Mans) and none of the oficial communications BEFORE the race mentioned the "forgoing championship points" clause.

And I almost travelled from Atlanta to Indianapolis!!! Luckily I had to work yesterday...

Shame on Minardi, that run, got 7 points, and tried to blame Ferrari. If they did not agree they should have gone to the pits...

when Jordan reneged and decided to run Minardi had to race. The two teams are in a battle not to come last.

Very sad race,hope things are sorted out by French GP

Kapel wrote:Very sad race,hope things are sorted out by French GP

I will not be getting up early to watch it, and the crowd at the track may consist of 2 drunks and a stray dog

There are a lot of good points here, but let's go all the way back.

Back at the Indy 500 Firestone (Bridgestone) became aware of abnormalities at the resurfaced circuit. They passed this information on to Bridgestone but not Michelin! THIS IS A DISGRACE! In the name of safety, why didn't they make this information available to Michelin also. This is gross human negligence on their part and they deserve to be dragged across the coals for this. This is competition gone mad!

Start all lawsuits, perhaps criminal negligence (Ralph Schumacher), with Firestone/Bridgestone. If a legal precident hasn't already been set along these lines then now is the time!

Michael Schumacher does not deserve a win!
This round (United States Grand Prix) should be cancelled.
It's meaningless to win in this situation.

Byron Forbes wrote:There are a lot of good points here, but let's go all the way back.

Back at the Indy 500 Firestone (Bridgestone) became aware of abnormalities at the resurfaced circuit. They passed this information on to Bridgestone but not Michelin! THIS IS A DISGRACE! In the name of safety, why didn't they make this information available to Michelin also. This is gross human negligence on their part and they deserve to be dragged across the coals for this. This is competition gone mad!

Start all lawsuits, perhaps criminal negligence (Ralph Schumacher), with Firestone/Bridgestone. If a legal precident hasn't already been set along these lines then now is the time!

Anybody got an email address for Moseley/ FIA?