News: Forumula 1 6/19/05 - Michelin Sucks!

[Aaron]

http://www.formula1.com/news/3202.html

In a nutshell:

Build a crappy tire (tyre).
Put it on a race car.
Realize it sucks.
Request track to change its setup for safety because of the crappy tires.
Have multiple teams refuse to race the current track on crappy tires.
6 cars race.
Worst race evAr, all on Michelin's shoulders.

[alachua]

well, there is a lot more than that.

this is the first year that they are running the endurance tyre that lasts an entire race. Indy has the fasted corner in the F1, in turn 12/13. Last year Ralf Schumacher was nearly killed in a crash coming out of this corner due to a tyre failure.

During practice, two Michelin tyres failed. It was determined by Michelin that the tires were not safe to race on, and doing so could put the drivers at risk. Michelin then sent new tyres for all 14 cars that they support.

Previous to the race, there were three compromises on the table:

1.) allow the new Michelin tyres to be run, the bridgestone drivers would be given the first 6 spots on the grid.

2.) install a chicane in the corner to bring speeds down, thus making the original tyre safe.

3.) have the Michelin drivers go slow through the corner.

1 was disallowed by the FIA, due to the regulations stating that the tyre qualified on must be raced on. And also that a team cannot change its tire choice after x time

2 was voted on, and agreed to by 9 of 10 teams. Ferrari was the sole hold out. The Indy folk had no problem doing this. FIA stated that regardless, they would not allow this to happen.

3 was proposed by the FIA, and is just stupid.

All the Michelin teams agreed to race under options 1 or 2, but forfeit any points.

FIA said it goes on under the rules, we don't care if it puts your drivers at risk. The drivers took the parade lap, after which, all Michelin drivers exited the track.

In a nutshell:

Recognise safety problem
Corrected problem
Attempt to find a viable compromise
Have all attempts at compromise shot down by beurocrats
Make a statement by not putting lives at risk.
Have 'classy' american fans further endanger the lives of drivers by throwing garbage on teh course.
Terrible race.

This race will have some big consequences. Most likely, no more Indy, and perhaps no more Michelin.

This is a black eye on what was shaping up to be one of the best F1 seasons in recent memory.

-Cliff

ps: moved to racing forum.

[MuddyREX]

I was so looking forward to that race too.

[S4toSTI]

I was so looking forward to that race too.
Me too but i did like seeing mike and rubens fight it out

[Aaron]

I can't blame the bureaucrats on this one. Why should the other 6 drivers suffer from Michelins failure? If you can't play, don't change the rule. If you have to drive conservatively and its not the sactioning bodies fault, don't protest when they don't bend the rules for you.

[alachua]

I can't blame the bureaucrats on this one. Why should the other 6 drivers suffer from Michelins failure? If you can't play, don't change the rule. If you have to drive conservatively and its not the sactioning bodies fault, don't protest when they don't bend the rules for you.

I don't know that it was a huge suffering, michelin drivers agreed to forego any points if they would simply accomodate their safety concerns. When you have a vote that comes in 9-1, I would say its a pretty fair compromise. They were also giving Bridgestone drivers the first six spots on the grid, it seems as though they tried to be as flexable as possible. What would happen if a driver who was instructed to 'drive conservatively' had a tire failure, or worse, a collision with a ferrari that was trying to overtake it through turn 13? I bet people would be up in arms at the FIA had that happened.

Bottom line, they are out there to produce a product, which they failed to do. How they do it is sometimes less important than simply doing it. What happened is embarrasing for the FIA, who was unable to effectivly handle a genuine issue, and felt that compromising its product was less important than compromising its rules.

-Cliff