The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Motor : Seven teams found guilty

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Thursday, Jun 30, 2005

Sport

Sport - Racing : Motor

Seven teams found guilty

PARIS: Formula One's ruling body (FIA) said on Wednesday the seven teams that abandoned the United States Grand Prix were guilty of two offences and would announce their punishments on September 14.

The FIA found the teams guilty of failing to ensure suitable tyres for the race and wrongfully refusing to allow their cars to start. BMW-Williams, Mercedes-McLaren, BAR-Honda, Toyota, Sauber, Red Bull and Renault declined to race on June 19 after their tire manufacturer, Michelin, said its tyres were unsafe for the Indy circuit.

The FIA accused the teams of damaging the sport's image and charged them with breach of Article 151c of the International Sporting Code. The teams face punishments ranging from a reprimand to life bans.

Michelin has offered to refund tickets for the race and offered 20,000 free tickets for the 2006 race. ``The FIA welcomes the announcement made by Michelin of a compensation package,'' the FIA said in a statement before the hearing.

``However, the FIA strongly contests the version of events detailed in Michelin's press release of June 28 and rejects the views expressed in Edouard Michelin's widely publicised letter to the FIA president Max Mosley.''

Mr. Mosley responded to a letter by Mr. Edouard Michelin in which Michelin criticised the FIA's response to the fiasco.

``You failed to bring a safe back-up tyre to the event,'' Mr. Mosely said. ``The banking on turn 13 has been there for nearly 100 years. Did Michelin really not know the loads or failing that, not have the means to calculate or simulate them?''

Two Michelin tyres failed during practice sessions two days before the race — one causing a wreck that prevented Ralf Schumacher from competing. Mr. Mosley said the race could have gone ahead safely if teams were prepared to adopt a Michelin-only speed limit on turn 13, Michelin runners used the pit lane instead of the banked corner, or there were repeated pit stops to change damaged tyres.

The incident is the latest that threatens to break up the F-1 series.

The next F-1 race is Sunday's French GP at Magny Cours. — AP

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