I am disappointed and sickened by the politics and all that is going on. I have been a BAR supporter since 2000. I have watched F1 on and off since the mid 90's. There were glory and greatness but now... I agree with the team's action and I do not blame Farrarri to stay in the race. If today's situaion were turned around that bridestone were the one that had problem, I am sure the race would go on but since only 3 teams would be out the fan probably care a bit less.

On the flipside... millions of people around the world went to the race track pay for the TV program to watch this show which was not entertaining and it was not worth their 3 hours. I feel sorry for the ones took the time off and spend hundres to thousands of dollars for this weekend.

I was there last year which was a fantasic environment the people was great, the city was great... it is almost like a big S2Ki meet... but everyone is talking about F1. I was gonna be there this year and now I am glad that I did not.

All in all... I am just sad and feel sorry for all the sponsors, people who spend money for the event and the track owner since now there are people demanding refund and the tough time they will have if there is ever another USGP at indy... Being the top 2 or 3 attendance compare to the rest of the races around the world... Bernie said it was poorly promoted? Something is really wrong...

With all this mixed feelings... I am going to take my S out since the weather is great here in NC and enjoy driving my S to forget about a great even that went down.

 

so what happened? quick notes? for those not fam with bar...

 

All bar 3 teams pulled out of the race.

Due to unsafe tyres (Michelin), 11 failures, 2 bad ones during qualifying and practice.

Only the Bridgestone teams competed?!

No one would agree on a compromise to allow all teams to run.

Michelin freighted over a load of tyres, but were not allowed to use them

A chicane was suggested to slow the cars down before turn 13 (the one causing excessive heat build up due to high loads in the rears), but the FIA said no.

Really feel for anyone who wasted their time and money on going to see this.

 

Oh and Bernie is a money grabbing tw@tt, imho.

 

I was supposed to go, but had to cancel. Boy, was I lucky!

I taped it and started watching at around 4:15pm...I couldn't believe they went ahead with it. I don't blame the teams. The FIA should have allowed a chicane, or just let them use the new tires Michelin flew in.

 

IMHO it was Michelin who screwed up...they manufactured and sent over the tires which were not adequate for the track. And the FIA tripped up under its own rules. However, I don't think it would have been fair to the Bridgestone runners to modify the track just because Michelin didn't have its act together. Michelin should mail off a couple hundred thousand checks to all those fans who wasted their time and money watching a bogus race. They can send me a check too for the pain and suffering I got from not getting to watch a competitive race

 

Michelin or FIA.......they should never loose sight of what/who is important....THE FANS.....the sport is nothing without them....the FIA should have allowed the chicane and let the MIchelin teams go....I was supposed to be there with my dad, who was coming ALL the way from Ecuador....we were lucky and he canceled at the last minute....
Screw Max Mosley and Bernie...the f*ck up BIG, BIG time with the US fan base...this is something that we will remember, and we will see what happens next year, if there is such a thing as a 2006 USGP...
X

 

Michelin teams were allowed to use the tires. They chose not to.

Hell, even with penalties, they couldn't have done worse than what they eventually did - 0 points for all Michelin teams.

I'm no fan of the FIA either, especially of late, but as far as I can tell, these guys are just fcuking with the FIA. to them for that.

And no, I don't think FIA should have had to modify the track just because Michelin screwed up with their tire choice.

 

In a sense they all did the right thing... Michelin on the ground of safety advised the teams not to race. Which is taking the responsibility on their failure. Think about this for their reputation? FIA on the other hand also stood on their ground and enforced the rules and nothing is wrong with that.

What is wrong is the fact that this is not trial for murder case but an entertaining business. Fans are left with what? The worst race in probably all the races I can remember! FIA says that if they put in the chicane they have to lift the sanction and no points will be rewarded. Of course Farrarri rejected to that. But under this kind of circumstances, they should put in for the interest of the fan and the sport! not for their points... So what now? millions of angry fans...

Should have just lifted the sanction and let the boys race with the chicane... Yes, it will be unfair to bridgestone runner and yes, no points will be granted but at least the fans will probably have a fun and exciting race to watch. At the end of the days, fans would not have been the loser and they shouldn't be. We as fans are the ones feeding them... we brought them cash... If no one is watching the race, no sponsor will be sponsoring them and the pinnacle would not be F1 anymore... I am more and more interesting in seeing the manufacture series coming along to replace F1...

 

I'm pissed - I just checked the garage - our new Odyssey Touring Edition has Michelins! I'd switch to Bridgestone's but the Michelin is the only company making a run-flat for the Odyssey. Michelin will be punished enough by the marketplace.