Formula 1 - USA Grand Prix

[Rex7777 0]

Did any of you Formula 1 fans see the mess yesterday at the USA Grand Prix? The Michelin tires were deemed unsafe and the Formula 1 officials wouldn't let the teams running Michelins change to a different kind of tire. So, all the cars with Michelins sat out the race. The race itself was run with only about six cars. What a joke.

 

Rex

[Eneukman 1]

Pandering to Michael Schumacher and Ferrari again, no doubt!!!!!

 

 

Alan

[Guest Winston_Churchill]

apparently it was only ferrari who objected to the chicane,it would of been better if they let the ferraris race alone it would have really showed them up anyway it was a right fuck up.

[Eneukman 1]

apparently it was only ferrari who objected to the chicane,it would of been better if they let the ferraris race alone it would have really showed them up anyway it was a right fuck up.

Now, why doesn't that surprise me

 

Alan

[c5vette 0]

Ferrari again

 

If they (Ferrari+Eclestone) continue like this then F1 will be history soon :frustrated

[Niall 0]

TV money next year is based on points this year so the other two teams had to run as it was likely the only points they will get this season.

 

Ferrari are a different matter.

 

Agree they and Bernie will kill the sport.

 

A1 Grand Prix anyone?

[ac69uk 0]

Apparently a precedent was set not so long ago when Bridgestone had a problem with their tyres and Ferrari wanted a slight change to the track, they basically got told to fuck off by the Michelin runners and so that is why Ferrari stood their ground yesterday.

 

Let's face it, if it had of been the Bridgestones that had the problem yesterday and they had requested for a chicane to be put in only to be turned down and subsequently pull out of the race I dont think there would have been anywhere near as much argument, partly because it would have only been 3 teams pulling out but that should not matter, 1 team or 10 teams the same rules should apply, but mostly there would not be as much argument because it would have meant Ferrari and in particular Schumacher pulling out and an even worse season for him/Ferrari and a lot of people are enjoying that.

 

The fault for this complete fuck up lies with 2 groups of people only, Michelin and the FIA.

[Tafkamb 0]

sorry to say but I have to agree with ac69uk

 

The Michelin runners set this precident not Bridgestone

 

At the end of it all it was a silly race but in my view only one place to lay the blame 'Michelin'. They were offered different ways around this problem by the FIA but all meant lowering the performance of the cars which they would not accept.

 

This was definately not a case of Shumacher being pandered to

[Guest Winston_Churchill]

I thought when the race went ahead it was just like watching last years processions that we had to endure every week.

[ac69uk 0]

Apparently the teams are allowed to bring 2 types of tyres to the race meetings, 1 of which is supposed to be a on the edge state of the art tyre and the other a back up tyre that is less hi spec but is of a known reliability. none of the teams had the 2nd back up tyre yesterday acording to the FIA.

 

If true then the blame has got to be labelled at Michelin for not ensuring all the teams had the back up tyres, the michelin teams for not insisting they have them and the FIA for not making sure back up tyres were present in all teams.

 

I feel sorry for the people who paid good money to see a pile of shite but did find it funny when 1 irate American started shouting of some crap about 'who do they think they are these god damn Europeans coming here to the USA and thinking they can pull this shit'

 

think he's still not got over the Ryder Cup.

[carcareers 0]

I watched the "race" until all the cars headed for the garage. That was enough for me.

 

Sad for all the fans that paid a huge amount of $$$ for tickets. The fans shown on tv were from all around the world.....not just America.

[Niall 0]

Got an email from someone in the game.

 

APPARENTLY a conversation went like this:

 

Bernie: 'You wouldn't dare'.

 

One of the Michelin running team leaders: 'Just fucking watch us'.

 

 

Also American 'fans' throwing glass bottles in front of F1 cars...

[monkeyman 1,597]

I blame three groups for this.

 

The FIA, for making loads of fucking silly rule changes without thinking them through.

 

Michelin, for causing the problem.

 

The Michelin teams, for refusing to accept any of the solutions offered to them.

 

I don't blame Ferrari for making a stand. Why should the rules be changed to accommodate teams just because their equipment isn't working properly?

 

I love F1, but if they get chucked out of the USA it serves them bloody well right. Perhaps they'll stop acting like a bunch of petulant schoolkids now.

 

Fat chance.

[Tahoe_Bill 0]

My (somewhat) censored comments.

 

I am very passionate about my sports and there are only two that really matter to me (excluding the Indianapolis 500 mile race) they are NFL Football and Formula 1.

 

Having spent $150 (US) per seat to keep the usual turn 13 penthouse seats for this race I am (pissed off) (livid) (perplexed) and most of all (sad).

 

I do not wish to offend someone that I have met and respect but frankly, Ferrari had nothing to do with the “chicken shit†“Michelin Teams†that probably took F1 away from the U.S !

 

When was the last time a F1A made a “major†modification on race day to allow â€censored†race course â€. Never!

 

From many news reports on the race the only tire (tyre) failures occurred with the Toyota team which were reported to be due to runing (very) a low tire pressure.

 

Maybe an early penalty for a tire change and at a minimum and an attempt at some points for the teams that withdrew would have reduced from the mockery that I sadly witnessed.

 

Did I want to join the few that threw their bottles or cans on the track in protest? Yes! But I realized that punishing driver doing their (albeit multi millionaire) job was not appropriate was wrong.

 

I was going to rant about the various early season Bridgestone failures, however they competed participated until they had to withdraw with total tire (destruction) failure.

 

In the end I am afraid I have seen my favorite race stolen away from me in the future.

 

My current car as well as most of my previous cars have been Michelin shod (my PREVIOUS tire of choice). I am due to replace my tires this winter and there is no way in hell that I will EVER buy a Michelin product again.

 

Since we are in the “off topic forumâ€:

 

Fuck Williams BMW

Fuck Mcleran Mercedes

Fuck the assholes at Sauber (I hope that Ferrari takes back your engines)

Fuck BAR Honda

Fuck Toyota (oops 1 lap would have got you a minimum of 2 championships points)

Fuck Renault

Fuck the other too obscure team to mention team (PS release Scott Speed from his contract and relinquish your sponsorship of other racing teams) because your “wings†don’t amount to shit!

Most of all Fuck Michelin!

 

If I seem to be over the top; either understand me or forgive me but I from the moment the mention of F1 in the US (especially in Indy my adopted hometown) I happy. From many published accounts there were negotiations for a second F1 race in Las Vegas in the near future. But that was of 18 June 2005 news.

 

What does the future holds? I was talking with my best friend who also wasted $150 for yesterday’s race. I told him that F1/the Michelin Teams (not the speedway) should refund yesterday tickets and provide a free/reduced price tickets for the same 2006 USGP seats. I was told not to hold my breath.

 

Rant over… I hope to see another USGP (?)

 

Bill

[windynoi 0]

Why did the cars that intended not race come out for the formation/warmup lap

 

This cost anyone who had bet a driver who that pulled out to loose their bet

 

If they hadn't come out people would have got their money back

[Bigmike 0]

Tahoe Bill I agree with you completely about your comments. I myself love F1 racing and to just blame Ferrari is an injustice. I remember watching a race earlier in the season when the Bridgestone tires de-laminated on Schumacher's car (two flats in about two laps) and there was no jumping up and down from Ferrari for a special deal and they new before the race that they would have problems with the Bridgstones. I hope that Michelin have the arse sued of them by some cunt.

Bigmike.

[ac69uk 0]

Maybe I'm just being cynical but I found it kinda strange why the 2 other teams on Bridgestones other than Ferrari were in favour of giving a concession to the Michelin runners when they had a lot to gain from not giving them an inch.

 

Cant help thinking that maybe a few underhand promises of help were made from the Michelin teams to the Bridgestone teams that make up the back of the grid. Being probably the 2 worst teams in Formula 1 they could do with all the help they can get both technically and politically whereas Ferrari although not doing so good this season are in a much stronger position to resist such overtures.

[carcareers 0]

The television announcers on ESPN said over and over what an embarrassment this was and probably the death nail for F1 in the USA.

 

So many people lost $$$ on tickets, bets etc..... Sad day!

[Guest Fatboyfat]

Why did the cars that intended not race come out for the formation/warmup lap

 

This cost anyone who had bet a driver who that pulled out to loose their bet

 

If they hadn't come out people would have got their money back

1. I believe that there was a legal requirement for them to do this ?

 

2. I had money on Alonso, which was refunded (void bet) by PaddyPower in the UK.

 

Agree tho' with all on here. Total farce, in probably the worst possible place for F1

[monkeyman 1,597]

All seven Michelin teams have now been summoned to appear before the FIA to face six charges apiece of what amounts to bringing the sport into disrepute.

 

Question is, what action will be taken against them? How about banning them for a race? Er no, maybe not a good idea.

 

And I still haven't figured out why the crowd were hurling beer cans at the only drivers who DID put on a race for them.

 

One more thought. If that chicane had been built and a serious accident had happened there, where would that have left the guys who built it? The sharp end of a BIG lawsuit, methinks.

 

be seeing you

monkeyman

[Firepole 181]

Why did the cars that intended not race come out for the formation/warmup lap

 

For dramatic effect, amongst other reasons.

[Bigmike 0]

Another funny thing here the event was held there in 2004 so all the teams new that it is a high speed circuit, how come it was only Michelin that turned up with the wrong tires. Another point of interest is that the other two teams that participated Minardi and Jordan have had issues with the all the other teams and wished that could have fallen into a big hole.

Bigmike.

[monkeyman 1,597]

Another funny thing here the event was held there in 2004 so all the teams new that it is a high speed circuit, how come it was only Michelin that turned up with the wrong tires.

They've diamond-cut the track surface since then. More grip than last year but also greater strain on the tyres.