I disagree, I read an article the other day,I'll have to see if I can find it. The article said that BMW was buying out a team,I think it was Sauber can't remember, anyway BMW was doing this to split up their partnership with williams and stated they were going to stay with the FIA and run a BMW factory car. They also stated F1 is the pinnacle of motorsport and they were clearly on the FIA's side.

 

Doug, it's all conjecture at this point but I'm not willing to bet against F1/FIA. I personally don't think this "breakaway series" is going to amount to anything. The other manufacturers have proved this year that they can indeed take on Ferrari using the same set of rules and I'm willing to bet that there's less support for the GPWC or whatever than there was 6 months ago. Bernie et al will make some concessions from the TV revenue and all will be as we know it today. Michelin can go off and sulk in a different sandbox but it won't be in the premiere (or even any) open wheel series

 

J.P., I hope like hell you are right, or in other words, I would love to be wrong.

Candy, I have not read that but I believe ya. That would be so great if BMW alligned themselves with FIA. And yes, BMW has bought controling interest in Sauber.

 

Everyone so quickly forgets.

Brazil 2003, Huge rain. Bridgestone only brought intermediate tires whereas Michelin correctly brought Intermediates AND Full Wets.

What did the FIA do? Tell Bridgestone to drive slower because they had the wrong tires? Nope. They delayed the race till much later in the day when the track was dryer.

 

Define "much later in the day."

My research shows the start of the race was rain-delayed by 15 minutes

 

Either way they compromised the race including running MANY laps behind the pace car because Bridgestone had the wrong tires.

They could have deployed the pace car every 10 laps to slow the field down at indy too.

 

My reports don't jibe with yours, so I'm not sure what really happened. From what I see, there were 8 laps done behind the safety car for wet conditions; I don't believe they brought the safety car out after that for any other reason besides normal racing incidents.

We may never really know what happened but one thing's for sure, there's a huge difference between going out and running regardless and packing up your toys and going to your room.

 

Yes of course, But the FIA has shown themselves to be far more willing to compromise for Ferrari/Bridgestone than GPWC/Michelins.

But then again, if you were telling me that you were leaving my series, I'd be a lot less likely to bend rules for you.

They've all forgot that the show must go on. And all 3 parties (Michelin, FIA, and Teams) did thier best to be as rigid and unwilling to make the race happen.

 

This is certainly true.

 

One of the few times I completely agree with you!




And as far as the "FIA" is concerned, I can not help but wonder if Max had actually come to the race if things could not have worked out somehow. The fact that he was on the other side of the world and this basic fact alone delayed the communication process. I don't know what the solution could have been, but I know there had to be one out there.