FIA Fosters an Unmitagated Disaster
In a week that saw some within the Formula One world postulating on a second F1 race in Las Vegas, the “men” of the sports ruling body ensured that wouldn’t happen. As a result of the FIA’s lack of work, lack of concern for safety and owning a dictionary devoid of the word compromise they put on display resembling hot laps at your local 1/4 mile bullring. In the process may have done irreparable harm to the sport in America.
A compromise was at hand. Michelin teams agreed to let the Bridgestone runners start ahead of them on the grid and to forego any championship points provided a chicane was erected in Turn 13. The FIA wouldn’t budge. The “race” would go on. What resulted was a 20 car field reduced to 6 Bridgestone shod cars “racing,” 14 others in the pits protesting, disgruntled pissed off fans heading for the exits, and apologies, lots of them. And more than a little embaressment.
“I feel terrible. I have a sick feeling in my stomach,” David Coulthard said after pulling out of the race. “I am embarrassed to be a part of this. The reality is that mature adults were not able to come to a resolution that would have allowed us to put on the show that everybody wants to see in Formula One. “It is a very sad day for this sport. I am so, so sorry for what we’ve done.”
But all is not lost. The race made history in another respect, it was the first Grand Prix since 1961 in Holland where all starters finished and were classified. Some consolation for 130,000 fans in attendence and countless millions across the globe!
UPDATE: Tony George, speedway President, was so disgusted by the display he didn’t wave the checkered flag signaling the end of the race and ordered his staff to decline participation in the postrace awards ceremony.
I believe what you say is true the leadership at formula1 screwed up…but MICHELIN you suck the most..that was embarassing as the tyre company which supports the majority of the teams at the circuit. As a company of engineers you should be ashamed of yourselves… Bridgestone pulled it of .. they withstood the test. There have been tracks where the michelin is better performing then the bridgestone however bridgestone has never had such drastic safety issues. If you cannot gaurantee safety you shouldnt be in the business
You forget one thing arun. Bridgstone had a very huge advantage constructing a tire for Indy. They most likely had all the data from the Indy 500 to work with. That data would have reflected changes in the track surface since last year. IMS was diamond ground to smooth the surface and it provided more grip over last year. The same occured at the Lowe’s Motor speedway in May for the NASCAR race. Tire ware was also atrocious in that event.
Michelin had no access to any of the data that Bridgestone had, they were saddled with data from last year.
Time to open my favorite school course, “conspiracy 101.” Will the fiasco at Indy forge a closer bond between Bernie and Champ Cars? Any working relationship between the IRL’s Tony George and Bernie have been seriously damaged, opening the door for that supreme opportunist Kevin Kahlkhovan to step in. How, you may ask?
The Long Beach Grand Prix. KK is now the promoter. Why not a double header weekend consisting of Champ Cars and F1? The logistics of accomodating the teams would be troublesome but hardly impossible. And it would open up the possibilities of pairings at other tracks as well.
The only limiting factor would be KK’s willingness to jump in bed with a series that now suffers a worse image than his own!
That’s an interesting thought George. What may be more appropriate is to pair Bernie with some of the old time promoters that ruled NASCAR decades ago.
You know the ones. As the checkered flag flew they were seen fleeing out of the back gate purse money stuffed under the seat and the race winners woman sitting beside him!
Let’s remember, kids, that the first three letters of the word fiasco are FIA. Despite Michelin’s issues being the crux of the problem, they were given no other option BUT to pull out of the race to guarantee the safety (as much as they can be safe) of all the drivers and the fans.
I tend to agree Carrie. But when dealing with the FIA plain fact gets mixed with politics and fiction in many cases. The FIA has faxed the charges to the 7 teams and from what I see they all will be found guilty.
Of course that’s because the FIA chose the broadest generic charges possible.
I agree with you, Marc.
I think the only people that don’t know how screwed Michelin is at this point is (are? ugh with the grammar) Michelin themselves. It’s a disgrace and I’m seriously betting that a split of IRL/CC proportions results from this.
Not that I want to see it but if Michelin and their teams do end up getting screwed, screwed sideways at that, I hope they boycott the rest of the season. We’ll see how well F1 and the FIA like running the rest of their races with just six cars.