Formula One disaster yesterday.

[Fartsauce 0]

INDIANAPOLIS -- Michael Schumacher climbed from his car to a chorus of boos, the die-hard Formula One fans unable to accept his first victory of the season after more than two-thirds of the field quit in protest over tire safety.

 

Sparking a fiasco for a series desperate to capture the American audience, Michelin advised the 14 cars it supplies that its tires were unsafe for the final banked turn at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

 

Unable to forge a compromise, all 14 Michelin teams ducked off the track after the warmup lap Sunday, leaving Schumacher and the five other drivers who use Bridgestone tires to race among themselves.

 

Fans headed for the exits in disgust, drivers were left bewildered and track officials joined team members in speaking afterward as if the United States Grand Prix itself is in jeopardy.

 

Schumacher returned to the podium, but there was no champagne toast for the Ferrari team on this Sunday.

 

"Bit of a strange Grand Prix," Schumacher said. "Not the right way to win my first one this year."

 

When an agreement couldn't be reached over the use of fresh tires or the placement of a chicane to slow the cars going into turn 13, the Michelin teams pulled off the track and parked in a unified protest.

 

"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 situation created a farce of a race for F-1, the world's most popular series. And it couldn't have happened at a worse venue: The series is already struggling to build an American fan base, and Indy officials were left unsure of the event's future.

 

"Undoubtedly, this sets us back in all of our efforts or all of the gains we've made in introducing this sport to America," said Joie Chitwood, track president. He declined to speculate on if the race would be back at Indy next season.

 

But even the Ferrari team, which finally scored its first win of the season, acknowledged that the series' future in the U.S. is in trouble.

 

"I wish we can come back to the States, this is a very important country and our No. 1 market," said Ferrari boss Jean Todt. "But this is a very bad day for our sport and I feel bad for the supporters."

 

Many blamed Ferrari itself -- the Italian team was the lone holdout in a series of compromises the nine other teams frantically tried to reach.

 

After two Michelin tires failed in Friday practice sessions -- one causing a wreck that prevented Ralf Schumacher from competing -- the tiremaker ruled that its rubber was unsafe for this track.

 

Michelin was rebuffed when it asked the FIA, the series governing body, to ease its rule forbidding teams to change tires after qualifying. The FIA also refused to consider installing a chicane.

 

So Michelin advised its teams not to compete after a lengthy morning meeting between nine team bosses (Ferrari did not attend), F-1 boss Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA. At one point, all 20 drivers were summoned to the meeting.

 

The nine teams even agreed to race for no points, as long as the obstacle was added to the course.

 

All of them said Ferrari would not agree to any of the proposals. Todt denied that Ferrari held up any deals, and said any decisions were left to the FIA. However, he said Ferrari would have protested the use of a chicane.

 

The teams worked up until the final moments for a resolution, even lining up on the grid and taking the warm-up lap. Then they pulled off, climbing out of their cars at the same time the remaining six drivers started the race.

 

The crowd was stunned, with fans pointing and gawking as they tried to figure out what was going on. Some booed. Others threw water bottles on the track in disgust.

 

"If I was a fan out there I would do the same," said driver Jacques Villeneuve, a former Indianapolis 500 winner.

 

After just 10 laps, many spectators began heading for the exits.

 

Indy officials said they had not yet discussed offering refunds, and track boss Tony George issued a statement urging fans to direct their frustration to Michelin, the FIA and F-1's management.

 

This event already draws just a fraction of what other races here do. Less than 100,000 come to this race, compared to a crowd in excess of 300,000 for the Indianapolis 500. Sunday's debacle will do nothing to improve that.

 

"Quite frankly, the fans got cheated," Ecclestone said.

 

All seven teams that pulled out of the race signed a single statement apologizing for the debacle.

 

"We are totally aware that the USA is an important market for Formula One and there is an obligation for Formula One to promote itself in a positive and professional manner," it said.

 

Among those refusing to race were world championship points leader Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen, who trails him in the standings by 22 points.

 

Alonso is F-1's biggest threat this season to end Schumacher's five-year reign as world champion. But when he and the other contenders pulled out of the event, it opened the door for seven-time world champion Schumacher to climb back.

 

Schumacher entered the event 35 points behind Alonso, but cut the deficit to 25 with the victory -- well within striking distance with 10 events left this season.

 

espn.com

 

 

 

Looks like the sport is all but officially dead in North America.

[the pinjockey 0]

It was actually not bad watching the TV coverage as the announcers just ripped everyone the entire hour and a half.

 

The worst part, though, was that the Michelin drivers actually went onto the track and made the parade lap. All that did was confuse the fans more and just rub salt in the wounds. At least if they had stayed in the garage, the fans would know that there was some kind of problem. As it played out it was more along the lines of a giant "fuck you" to the fans.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Looks like the sport is all but officially dead in North America.

 

And where, pray, is this Montreal?

 

Can anyone name that?

[Red Baron 0]

Did it suck, yes, but it was a safety issue thats the whole ideal.

 

A parade lap would not cause any damage to the tyres.

[the pinjockey 0]

Of course a parade lap isn't going to damage the tires, but they knew before that lap that they would not be racing. So there was no need to make the lap and piss off the fans.

 

And there is no logical reason they did not go with the idea of Bridgestone drivers getting all of the points (since they ended up with that anyway), putting in a chicane and then running the race without points on the line.

[Crimson Platypus 0]

The fans booed Schumacher like it was his fault Michelin's tires were faulty.

[the pinjockey 0]

I would think they were just booing in general that the farce lasted the entire time and they had the brass ones to declare a "winner". Of course Tiego Montoya was hard to boo, as he just looked so sad cheering the only podium he'll ever see.

[King Cucaracha 0]

If Schumacher and Barrichello had crashed when Michael was coming out of the pit-lane and it was a Jordan 1-2, with a podium consisting of Jordan and Minardi, I wouldn't put it past Ferrari to have demanded the result not stand.

 

Total farce. So many people to blame. All the Michelen teams were doing their job by ensuring the safety of their drivers, so they can't really be held at fault. Michelen's incompetence, Ferrari's stubborness, the entire F-1's poor management, Jordan's U-turn (they had agreed not to start the race as well as Minardi. 9 out of the 10 teams agreed on not racing without a chicane, Ferrari were the hold-outs. Jordan changed their minds at the last minute, meaning Minardi had to do the same to stay in touch in the Constructor's Championship)...all of that has probably cost F-1 a lot of money, future and present.

[Art Sandusky 0]

I really really wish the CART/IRL split hadn't gone down. F1 drivers might not be on the same level as NASCAR drivers at this point if the split hadn't happened, but it'd be a pretty big sport still.

[the pinjockey 0]

I can't fault Ferrari for going through with the race nor do I blame them for standing firm on the chicane issue. They shouldn't be punished, because their competitor brought shitty equipment. I do think it was a bit bush league to not let the Michelin teams use the new tires (the rule being you have to use the tires you qualified on), but again they shouldn't have to bail out Michelin.

 

The main fault lies with two parties. First, Michelin for bringing shitty equipment. Like they said during the broadcast, that corner has been there since 1909 and it is silly to not have equipment to handle it.

 

Second, the FIA for being gutless, political bitches to Ferrari. They should have stood up and said a.) you are getting a chicane, Ferrari shut the fuck up, b.) you are getting the new tires, Ferrari shut the fuck up or c.) chicane is in, it is a non-points paying race, Bridgestone teams get the points based off qualifying position. Hell, it probably would be a better race if there were no points and everyone was just running for a win (look at the NASCAR All-Star race).

 

The idea that the Michelin teams should have gone out and ran slow through that turn is asinine. If I am in a car with a potential blow out, how do I know when I am going slow enough or not?

[MrRant 0]

The Michelin teams could have also just slowed down through that turn and they would have been fine from what I've heard.

[Art Sandusky 0]

At least I have another reason to dislike Ferrari now.

[the max 0]

The Michelin teams could have also just slowed down through that turn and they would have been fine from what I've heard.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Or in other words, allowed the other cars to have a decided advantage over them.

 

From what I understand, admittedly little, they took the practice/warm-up lap to see how the tires reacted to the track to see how they were going to handle, saw that they weren't going to run well and left the track.

 

F1 has a pretty big black eye here, especially since they're not offering any refunds at all to all of the fans who were shortchanged.

[Red Baron 0]

I can't fault Ferrari for going through with the race nor do I blame them for standing firm on the chicane issue.  They shouldn't be punished, because their competitor brought shitty equipment.  I do think it was a bit bush league to not let the Michelin teams use the new tires (the rule being you have to use the tires you qualified on), but again they shouldn't have to bail out Michelin.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

When I first heard the rule of that, and the incident of Raikonnen losing his left rear tyre at Australia, I knew something like this would happen later on in the season.

[the pinjockey 0]

From what I understand, admittedly little, they took the practice/warm-up lap to see how the tires reacted to the track to see how they were going to handle, saw that they weren't going to run well and left the track.

 

They interviewed one of the pricipals of a Michelin team and he said they pretty much went out there to give the fans at least a little bit of a spectacle. They knew before hand they weren't going to race and how they felt on a warm up lap wouldn't change that.

 

I did not know, until I heard them during the race, that they weren't allowed to change tires and get gas on the same stop anymore. That is pretty dangerous making them run the entire race (and qualifying) on the same tires (obviously fuel will be needed on the stops). I understand they are trying to cut costs, but that is nuts.

[King Cucaracha 0]

From what I understand, admittedly little, they took the practice/warm-up lap to see how the tires reacted to the track to see how they were going to handle, saw that they weren't going to run well and left the track.

 

They interviewed one of the pricipals of a Michelin team and he said they pretty much went out there to give the fans at least a little bit of a spectacle. They knew before hand they weren't going to race and how they felt on a warm up lap wouldn't change that.

 

I did not know, until I heard them during the race, that they weren't allowed to change tires and get gas on the same stop anymore. That is pretty dangerous making them run the entire race (and qualifying) on the same tires (obviously fuel will be needed on the stops). I understand they are trying to cut costs, but that is nuts.

 

IIRC, they can change one tyre per race if it's too damaged to continue racing. The tyre they take off has to be inspected and shit afterwards. Only one change is allowed though, so if a second tyre goes, you keep racing or drop out.

 

I'm not sure if the no tyre changes thing is cost-cutting, or just another attempt to make the sport more exciting. They've had so many rule changes in the past few seasons. The sport has been pretty boring the past few seasons. All the rule changes have come in this season, and it's the first season Schumacher hasn't been winning every race with ridiculous ease...so obviously, there's something in the rules that's working to make it a more level playing field.

[the pinjockey 0]

I don't know if it is the rule change as much as Bridgestone having crappy short run tires (killing their qualifying efforts), McLaren finally getting their shit together and Renault finally getting the horsepower to match their terrific downforce package.

 

If anything this new rule helps Ferrari, because you notice that Barrichello and Schumacher come on late in races. Without this rule, they would be completely screwed being on newer tires the whole race.