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Off-topic TalkWhere overpaid, underworked S2000 owners waste the worst part of their days before the drive home. This forum is for general chit chat and discussions not covered by the other off-topic forums.
Originally Posted by magician,Jun 22 2005, 08:54 AM
According to my wife, one of the articles that described the fiasco said that after the race there were at least 100 fans lined up to purchase tickets for next year's race.
Must be Ferrari/Jordan/Minardi fans.
The letter from the FIA to the seven Michelin-shod teams seems to sum up the situation adequately. Those teams didn't bring competitive equipment; the Bridgestone teams did. There is no reason to penalize the Bridgestone teams by installing a chicane: they didn't need to slow down for turn 13. (Additionally, building a makeshift chicane creates all sorts of potential liability issues.) If these teams couldn't drive flat-out on turn 13 it's their responsibility to slow down. The FIA even offered to monitor the cars for excessive speed. It's hard to imagine what more the FIA could have done.
Peter Windsor had an interesting observation: none of these seven teams has accepted any responsibility for what happened. Isn't it McLaren's responsibility to bring a competitive car to the race? Isn't having proper tires part of that responsibility? Can't the same be said for Renault, Williams, BAR, et al?
Max Mosley has said that these seven teams should foot the bill for reimbursing the fans. He's right.
F1 and the FIA are pissing jokes. The job of a race organizer is to put together an event, and make sure it comes off. The fans didn't buy their tickets from Michelin or any of the teams, they bought them from the event organizers. The ticket holders didn't get the race they paid for, because the racing organization refused to do whatever it took to make it happen. If I ran Indy, I'd tell the FIA "don't call me, I'll call you." Or just tell them to get their shit and get out, and never come back. What a joke they are. Can't even run a race right. Guess the difficulties in crossing the Atlantic is too much for them
Yeah, "F1, pinnacle of racing," my ass. Every weekend dirt track race in the States is run better than that. "The best of the best," at pissing and moaning, maybe.
Hopefully the teams form their own series in 2008, and let the F1 organization go screw itself.
I blame the teams for screwing the fans. They simply weren't prepared and rather than making do with the tires they had and giving the fans what they paid for, they "protested."
But it wasn't just a protest. Prior to the race, the drivers joined in the antique car "parade" waving to the fans as they were driven around the track while knowing that they were about to SCREW them.
The fans didn't realize what was about to happen. The drivers entered the grid, started their engines and drove the formation lap only to pit before reaching the grid. It was a premeditated slap in the face to all fans!
My bad.... I cant belive that in that first pic you posted you actually got a picture of me, my dad and my friends. What the heck are the chances of that! I am the guy with the tan ball cap on looking left just on the other side of the guy at the bottom of the pic just left of center with the black and grey hat on.
About 100 k people there and you got me, thats nuts!
Holy crap! I'm in that picture too! I'm the kid in the white polo sitting right next to BobbyB!
(Sorry, he sent me this link, had to have fun)
Sucks we didn't get to meet you man. What kind of camera were you using. I was probably standing up and getting in your way half the race with my Canon. If so, my apologies!
I was using a Casio Exilim. A great little point and shoot. HOTRODS2000 was with me and got some great shots with his D90. I can't wait to see them.
We left at lap 6. There wasn't a race to watch and the fans were getting way crazy.
I truely hope that F1 continues in the US but frankly, the only way that fans will return is to have Michellin step up to the plate and make restitution. I don't see that coming from a French company to United States fans.
" They have since offered to refund the tickets of the Indianapolis fans, but have stood by their claims that inflexibility on the part of the FIA prevented the race going ahead."
These are FULL refunds, and they're also distributing 20,000 free race tickets for the 2006 USGP...to help compensate for the costs incurred by fans that travelled.
All 7 teams found guilty on 2 charges. We wont know what the punishment is until September and they can range from as simple as a fine or as major as a Lifetime ban!
Of course there's talks that 8 of the 10 teams are considering their own league, mostly for sure are BMW-Williams, McLaren Mercedes, and Renault (sorry can't remember for sure if they are the third team) are definetly in. Toyota and Honda have said yes, not for 100% sure.
YOu know what? Let them form their own damn series....where will they race? Seeing how most of the European racetracks are under FIA lock and key, they won't be able to use those...so again... where will they race? Hmmm....
Indy was a farce. Next year's indy race (if there is one) must go over the top. This means reverting back to the days when there was a pit walk for the general public where they could actually talk with the drivers (ala ChampCar).
Now I'm a HUGE F1 fan, I'll keep watching as they keep showing races, but they REALLY need to make amends FAST.
