The USGP: NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!
 

I just arrived back to my hotel room from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Besides the fact that this trip cost me well over $1500 total, I'M SIMPLY FUMING RIGHT NOW:mad: :mad: :mad:


This is so typical of the political nature of the F1 business these days. No wonder the series has struggled so much to get a foothold in this country. One can only imagine what kind of irrepairable damage this farce has caused. You guys should have seen it at the track - we thought a riot was going to start! People were cussing and throwing water bottles all over the place. Oh man.

Just had to rant; thanks for putting up with me for a moment. Was anyone else there?

Um, what happened?

WTF? I don't have a clue what you're writing about...

Due to safety concerns, 14 drivers with Michelin tires pulled out of the race after one lap leaving 6 drivers on the track. A total farce.

The United States Grand Prix descended into farce this afternoon when 14 of the 20 cars pulled into the pits before the race even began at Indianapolis.

Michelin had warned teams that their tyres were not safe to race after a problems with the final, banked turn.

Ralf Schumacher crashed heavily there on Friday, prompting immediate investigations by Michelin who could not find the cause and subsequently advised their teams not to race unless a chicane was introduced.

Ferrari refused to sanction that move and as a result started the race alongside only the Minardis and Jordans.

Formula One commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone admitted the fiasco was "not good on both counts" for Formula One in the United States and Michelin's future in the sport.

He said: "Michelin brought the wrong tyres it is as simple as that. The difference is you can't tell people to do something when the tyre company says you can't race on those tyres.

"I feel sorry for the public and I feel sorry for the promoter here."

The race, for what it was worth, saw Michael Schumacher lead from Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello.

Tiago Monteiro was third in a Jordan ahead of Minardi's Christijan Albers. Narain Karthikeyan was fifth in the other Jordan with Patrick Friesacher's Minardi sixth.


The remaining drivers, including world championship leader Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button, got out of their cars and watched from monitors in the pit lane.

A crowd of more than 100,000 watched bemused as Ferrari streaked away and perennial backmarkers Jordan and Minardi fought it out for an unlikely podium finish, one which would be Minardi's first.

Minardi boss Paul Stoddart was not in the mood to celebrate that possibility though.

He said: "All I can say is I just hope that when the dust settles down on this that we see that the truth for why it happened is sought out afterwards.

"The options that were available today and not taken will come out."

There is only 3 teams on the track racing.

Hooboy...hey guys, the Champ cars are running in Oregon today...it's a road course. You might see some racing, even...and it's free on network TV. You know, I enjoy watching F-1 on the tube from time to time, but it's snobbisness kind of rubs my fur the wrong way...I like all forms of racing...from our local dirt track with it's 1/3 mile oval to formula one. It would be fun to see a F-1 guy try to pilot a dirt track Outlaw car some time...his elitism ego might get jolted a bit. :D!

Im watching it now on british TV, all the teams that had to back out have just finished a meeting. they are going to issue a statement very soon about the chain of events that have led to todays events. big shame that this has happened though. I feel sorry for all the people who have taken the effort to get to the track and watch the race. its bad enough just watching it on the box and being short changed...

Andy

and shuey wins again......

I was there...I feel bad for the folks that flew from out of the country to see this mess happen. F1 is dead in the U.S.

No one to blame but Michelin. Why should Ferrari, Jordan and Minardi have to agree with putting in a chicane to slow the Michelin shod cars down? Changing rules on the fly?

Bridgestone did their homework and provided a tire that would safely last 73 laps. Kudos to the Michelin teams who erred on the side of caution and didn't allow their drivers to make their own decisions. Coulthard's foolish plea to want to race shows what a true bone-head he really is (it's not bravado) and why he never became World Champion when he had the equipment under him.

What is interesting is to see how this affects the final outcome of both the driver's and manufacturer's championships. I feel bad for Trulli and Toyota, even if they were light on fuel just to gain pole for the marketing opportunity that now won't be available to them. Everyone connected to F1 is going to distance themselves as far as possible from this stinkbomb.

If I'm Monteiro, I'd order a round of Shrimp cocktails at St. Elmo's for everyone. (Indy residents and those of us who are/have been associated in motorsports will know what I'm talking about). It's Christmas as far as he and Jordan are concerned.

What started out as a great day for Michelin (sweeping the 24 Hours of LeMans) ended miserably.

Maybe Tony George will boot the circus out of town and they will come back to Long Beach?:)

Ralph

"Coulthard's foolish plea to want to race shows what a true bone-head he really is " - Not all the Mitchelin cars were effected to the same degree - Indeed the Red Bull cars and one other team showed no problems at all - Different suspension set ups from the Toyotas this being the reason they wanted to race - but since it was taking place in the land of the law suit - Mitchelin enforced a blanket ban rather than any potential problems.
Sad thing was - they had a suitable tyre but were not allowed to use it. Potitics, business and sport at its finest.

The most disgusting thing was the spectators throwing garbage onto the track.

Unbelievable is the only way to describe it. You better demand your money back for that race, but nothing can repair the damage that they have caused. The funny thing was that there was a bunch of hype around Scott Speed and how he is going to be the ambasador to F1 from America, I dont think it matters if Jesus came down and was driving for America in Formula 1, no one can repair the damage. I do believe that Monteiro should rightfully be celebrating though, he beat out the other Minardi and Jordan drivers and got to stand on the podium. Most disappointing sporting event I have ever seen...and it was on Father's Day!

Fine, Michelin is to blame for the fiasco, but FIA could have allowed a chicane to be placed in front of Turn 13 and guaranteed the first 6 points paying positions to the Bridgestone runners that made it to the end of the race.

Indy F1 is finished.

I"m watching it on tivo right now. Unbelievable. Somebody's head should roll for this. Its an insult to the fans, and an insult to motorsport.

Andy,

How would have the UK spectators reacted in a similar situation, and you have to wonder if it had something to do with the struggle between Ecclestone and the manufactures wanting to set up their own series.

As for Tony George, it kind of falls under "what comes down goes around" I still have a hard time with the way he held Indy hostage and "only" for his own personal gain.

Why run on ovals anyway? It opens a whole new can of worms. Not to mention the fact that turns like tumburello are no longer part of the tour while the last turn at Indy is dubiously still in play. Politics? Of course. Just last year we were having another discussion right here about the same damn turn. In the thread we were going back and forth about how such a turn is approved for F1 use, why the paramedics took too long, etc... Heck, if Ralf drives hard again there next year he must have some big cojones. If it weren't for tires, it would be something else on that turn. In fact, I would be happily surprised if in a couple of years someone does not get seriously hurt in there. Should they have put a chicane in that spot? Of course. But that should have been done after last years race already. But if not, then take a devil may care attitude with the other tracks as well and put turns like tumburello back and watch people die. But sadly, for the next few weeks the discussion will be about who is at fault instead of the real issue which is the turn itself. In the end I feel bad for the fans. As for myself, I would rather spend the money in Motreal. Better track, better action, better food, better exchange rate.

Probably a track invasion. It would be quite difficult to launch a styrofoam cup of tea over the fence without burning yourself, or the poor sod two rows in front.