Indy F1 PR Damage Control

[Burt Munro]

With the fiasco that the Formula 1 race at Indy turned into, who was left with the biggest tarnishing on their image?  Who showed the least regard for the fans in trying to make the race come off as close to what was expected?

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

I missed it.  What the hell happened?

[Burt Munro]

Michelin concluded that the tires that they were using couldn't handle the speeds on the last corner coming onto the front straight.  Bottom line they had 3 suggested options:
-ship a new supply of tires that could handle the speeds
-install a chicane to slow the speeds thru the corner
-advise the team owners of their concern for safety using the current tires and track configuration.

Outcome:
6 drivers on Bridgestones competed - 14 drivers on Michelins pulled out.

Make your own assumptions on how enjoyable it was to watch a total of 6 cars on the track.

[Burt Munro]

The Ferrari aspect came into play because all the owners except Ferrari agreed to go along with installing the chicane - Ferrari effectively blocked that idea.

[tstruyk]

from what I have read FIA refused the change in tires (easy fix) because it was "against the rules", I really dont think that they would have allowed the chicane EVEN IF ferrari didnt block it...for the same reason.  I could be wrong  :-/

cant blame michelin in my mind for ascertaining that the conditions where unsafe on their tire.  Where they supposed to keep their mouth shut on a safety issue?  I dont know all the facts, just the few blurbs I have read... regardless, its messed up!!

tim

[Scott]

From what I've learned about the tires, Michelin did ship new tires.  Of course they only had about 12 hours to make and ship the tires, which they did.  While the tires were in transit they began testing some from the same batch and realized they suffered from the same problem as the original.  So, the teams had new tires on Sunday morning, but they were no better than the originals.

I don't blame the Bridgestone teams for nixing the chicane idea.  Basically, the Michelin teams said "we are uncompetative at this track, can we change the track so we are competative?"  

So, who's fault is it?  Not the teams that ran, not the Speedway or Tony George.  I think the teams, the FIA, and Bernie are so full of themselves they could give a crap what 150,000 US fans and millions watching on TV think.  

I just wish we could have snuck a commercial for the USGP in there to educate all those F1 fans to the fact there is real, world class racing going on!

[r1owner]

The Ferrari aspect came into play because all the owners except Ferrari agreed to go along with installing the chicane - Ferrari effectively blocked that idea.

Everything I've heard indicates that the FIA had already nixxed the chicane idea before even talking to the Ferrari team.

IMO, it all lies on Michelin.  They did not prepare for the race properly.  That being said, I think the FIA should have bent the rules and installed the chicane and let them race.  If any Bridgestone team was unhappy with the results, they could protest.

I'll ask the same question the commentators did.... Would this big of a deal have been made had Bridgestone had the tire problem instead of Michelin?  I doubt it.

[Zac]

I don't blame the Bridgestone teams for nixing the chicane idea.  Basically, the Michelin teams said "we are uncompetative at this track, can we change the track so we are competative?"  

If you show up with tires that don't work at the track, and the rules don't let you change - YOU LOSE!

It's the same as a team finding that their engines blow up at half race distance, and asking for the race to be shortened.  It's not going to happen.

Safety is most important and I can't blame the teams for pulling out after Michelin told them to.  But they still lose.  Bridgestone had a better tire (or maybe they didn't admit to a problem, but I won't go there) and deserved to win.  It would be unfair to Bridgestone to take that away.

I think the blame rests with Michelin.  The FIA just followed the rules.  It's too bad for everyone else (fans, sponsers, etc), but it's racing and that happens sometimes.  

Maybe the F1 teams will remeber this when the negotiate their tire deals for next year...

-z.

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Anyone remember the F1 race in Spain in 03 when Bridgestone only brought intermediates to the race and it POURED? Michelin was the only ones who brought full rains. FIA had teh pace car out on the track holding their speed down until the track dried.

If this was Bridgestone that had the tire problems now, FIA would had done everything in its power to keep the Ferarri teams racing.

[Burt Munro]

from the FIA website)


FIA reveal Michelin team charges
 
The seven Michelin teams who pulled out of Sunday's race at Indianapolis are to face charges of breaching the International Sporting Code by committing "one or more acts prejudicial to the interests of a competition, namely the 2005 United States Grand Prix, and/or to the interests of motor sport generally."  
 
    
In identical letters to the seven team bosses published by the FIA on Tuesday, Formula One's governing body, who has summoned the teams to appear before the World Motor Sport Council next Wednesday, listed a number of charges.

The charges given are that, according to the FIA, each team:

• failed to ensure that they had a supply of suitable tyres for the race
• wrongfully refused to allow their cars to start the race
• wrongfully refused to allow their cars to race, subject to a speed restriction in one corner which was safe for such tyres as they had available
• combined with other teams to make a demonstration damaging to the image of Formula One by pulling into the pits immediately before the start of the race
• failed to notify the stewards of their intention not to race, in breach of Article 131 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations.

Article 131 states: "The starting grid will be published four hours before the race. Any competitor whose car(s) is (are) unable to start for any reason whatsoever (or who has good reason to believe that their car(s) will not be ready to start) must inform the stewards accordingly at the earliest opportunity and, in any event, no later than 45 minutes before the start of the race."

The FIA told the teams they will be sent a full dossier of the charges within the next 24 hours and invited them to send any comments they should have in writing prior to their meeting with the Council in Paris on June 29.

[Burt Munro]

Jun 21, 8:42 AM EDT

F1 says Michelin teams damaged reputation

By JEROME PUGMIRE
AP Sports Writer
  
PARIS (AP) -- Formula One's governing body has charged the seven teams using Michelin tires with damaging the sport's image by pulling out of this past weekend's United States Grand Prix in Indianapolis.

The FIA, which has summoned the seven teams to a June 29 hearing in Paris, charged each team with a breach of Article 151c of the International Sporting Code.

The FIA released copies Tuesday of letters it sent to Renault, McLaren-Mercedes, Toyota, Williams-BMW, BAR-Honda, Sauber and Red Bull.

The charges include failing to ensure they had a suitable set of tires, wrongfully refusing to allow their cars to start the race, wrongfully refusing to allow their cars to race subject to a speed restriction and combining with other teams "to make a demonstration damaging to the image of Formula One by pulling into the pits immediately before the start of the race."
  
The teams also were accused of failing to notify stewards of their intention not to race.

Possible sanctions include fines, docked points or even an order to pay compensation.

Michelin provides seven of the 10 F1 teams with tires. Only six cars - using Bridgestone tires - started the race in Indianapolis on Sunday after 14 drivers left the track following the warmup lap. Ferrari's Michael Schumacher won, climbing from his car to a chorus of boos.

The same seven teams were among the nine teams that boycotted meetings called by FIA president Max Mosley in January and April to discuss regulations for the 2008 season. It was unclear whether they'll attend the June 29 meeting.
    
Two Michelin tires failed during Friday's practices - one causing a wreck that prevented Toyota's Ralf Schumacher from competing - prompting Michelin to rule its tires were unsafe for the Indianapolis track.

Michelin unsuccessfully asked FIA to ease its rule forbidding teams from changing tires after qualifying. FIA also refused to consider installing a curve that Michelin said would slow speeds and make the track safer for its tires. Michelin then advised its teams not to compete.

"We are absolutely not embarrassed about our decision, although we do have regrets for the fans of Formula One and for the racing drivers of course," Frederic Henry-Biabaud, Michelin's deputy director of competition, said Monday.

"We feel it is a reasonable decision and we were professional to bear in mind primarily the safety of the drivers," Henry-Biabaud said. "We had no other choice."

 

[Burt Munro]

The decision of 7 teams not to race Sunday could have as much to do with internal issues within F1 as anything.....

Formula One is starkly divided.

In one camp is Max Mosley, the president of racing's world governing body, the FIA. He is joined by F1's multibillionaire commercial director, Bernie Ecclestone, and by Ferrari - the sport's most powerful team.
  
In the other camp are the nine remaining teams, and key Formula One manufacturers BMW, Mercedes and Renault. The group is considering running a breakaway series in 2008, and also has the support of Japan's two manufacturers in F1 - Toyota and Honda.

After two Michelin tires failed in Friday's practice sessions for the U.S. Grand Prix - one causing a wreck that prevented Toyota's Ralf Schumacher from competing - Michelin said its tires were unsafe for Indianapolis.

Michelin wanted a curve installed going into turn 13, slowing the cars and sparing the tires. Nine of the 10 teams backed the French tire company. But Mosley and Ferrari were opposed. Seven of F1's 10 teams use Michelin tires, with Ferrari, Jordan and Minardi running on Bridgestone.

Mosley has been playing hardball with the nine renegade teams, and the five manufacturers, ever since they boycotted meetings called by him in January and April to discuss regulations for the 2008 season. On Monday, the FIA summoned the seven teams that use Michelin tires to a hearing June 29.

Minardi team owner Paul Stoddart, who serves as spokesman for the nine teams, has called for Mosley to resign. Ecclestone's former lawyer and friend, Mosley has been accused of being dictatorial. Stoddart has called for "more transparency in how F1 is run, a precise regulatory process and a stable and consistent way the rules are applied."

The teams also want a bigger cut.

Formula One teams have complained that Ecclestone shares too little of the sport's commercial rights income, which was estimated at $800 million in 2003. Teams receive about 23 percent. Ecclestone has amassed a fortune estimated at $3.7 billion in three decades of running F1.

Joie Chitwood, CEO and president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, called Sunday's fiasco in Indianapolis a dark day for the sport.

"Obviously, we are as disappointed over this event as anything that we've had in our history," he said.

Asked how it would affect F1's future in the U.S, he replied: "I would say it is a major setback."