Super Aguri Denied Istanbul Access
The weird and not-so wonderful odyssey of F1’s Super Aguri squad continues with reports suggesting the team has been denied access to to the Turkish Grand Prix circuit pending talks between founder Aguri Suzuki and backers Honda over the Japanese team’s future.
From my perspective gleaned from many news reports I’ve come to the conclusion someone is lying out their ass.
A team source confirmed the trucks and motorhome had been prevented from entering the Istanbul Park that much seems certain, the million dollar question is who issued the order. The [in]famous “unnamed sources” fail to offer any clues.
Most have said they either have no knowledge of, or are outright denying Honda F1 chief executive Nick Fry told FOM that the team “would not be racing thus weekend.”
The idea has been floated the request was made so that Honda F1 would not have to suffer the embarrassment of watching its sister team disassemble and leave the track should the pending Weigi deal face rejection by the Honda board.
I’m thinking if it was Fry that made the request it highly unlikely he would do so without consent from the board. To do so would be a clear message that Honda has made up its mind to reject the Weigi bid and allow Super Aguri a painful death before even meeting with Aguri and Weigi in Tokyo this week.
The same sources have claimed no such decision has been made, in addition to having no knowledge of any request made to deny Istanbul access to the team.
“Honda will help Super Aguri as much as possible,” Koji Hayami a spokesman for the automotive manufacturer was quoted as saying. “I do not know of any request [to turn away the trucks]. It is not Honda.”
So who the hell did? Was it Fry operating without knowledge of Tokyo? Or is he being used as a pawn to “save face” on the part of Honda and not appear to be the axe-man behind the whole sorry episode?
Whatever the case the lifespan of Super Aguri looks like it will be resolved this week. Whether the truth behind the track denial is answered is an open question that may never be answered.
Technorati Tags: Aguri Suzuki, Formula One, F1’s Super Aguri, Nick Fry, Honda, Honda Racing F1, Istanbul Park, Super Aguri
