[ESPCamaro]

MY GOD did anyone see what happened. The USGP started SIX CARS. All Michilin tired cars took a warm up lap then parked.

Probably the death of a USGP for a few years.



Sheesh and some people say that the SCCA and NASCRAP is a political mess.....

[sgarnett]

Michelin definitely screwed up; no doubt about it. However, there were a few critical tidbits in the Speed Channel coverage that were barely mentioned:

1) Michelin's backup tires had the same problem.
2) The FIA's pissy response letter clearly put the blame on Michelin, and in effect told anyoine involved to go f*ck themselves. It also hinted that Michelin's future status as a tire supplier for F1 may be in doubt.
3) There was ALREADY a rule change proposal on the books to go to a single tire supplier in the future (along with eliminating the tread grooves).

To me, all the pieces add up to someone at the FIA wanting to oust Michelin anyway, and they seized the opportunity to fortify their position.

Ferrari may have also voiced opposition to the chicane. I don't know, but it wouldn't have taken a genius to see that their reputation and image could only suffer. If they DID oppose it, they were idiots to do so.

The one and only right course of action would have been to add the chicane. Indy was ready to do it. All teams would have been affected equally. Instead, the paying fans were really the ones who were used as pawns (ie screwed), and that's shameful.

Of course, all the FIA can do is pull its sanction. So be it. Run the race without points. At least the fans and sponsors would still get what they paid for. F1 must share part of the blame.

In other words, as far as I'm concerned the FIA and F1 willfully defrauded the fans and sponsors to advance their own agenda.

Michelin screwed up, but at least they had the balls to notify everyone before the race instead of just quietly crossing their fingers and letting people risk their lives.

I don't think the alternate tires or speed limits for the Michelin drivers were the answer. I'm sure someone at Michelin will be fired, but it's really the execs of the FIA and possibly F1 who should be immediately fired - not asked to resign for "personal reasons", but simply FIRED.