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From correspondents in Indianapolis, Indiana
June 19, 2005
Tyre manufacturer Michelin today advised its seven Formula One teams not to race the US Grand Prix unless Ralf Schumacher's tyre failure in practice can be explained or new tyres shipped from France can be used.
"Our advice today is to not run tomorrow's race," said Michelin director of competition Nick Shorrock.
He expanded on a press release issued earlier by the company that said it had "advised on the conditions for tests, qualifying and for the race tomorrow".
"These decisions have been taken in the interest of the safety of the drivers."
Two Toyota drivers, Schumacher and third driver Ricardo Zonta, suffered left rear tyre failures in practice that Michelin has been unable to explain.
Schumacher hit the wall hard enough to have FIA medical officers rule him out of the race as a precaution. He will be replaced by Zonta.
"Despite all the checks that we've done, both here and in our test facilities in Clermont-Ferrand, we have not been able to understand or reproduce the problem of yesterday," the Michelin statement said.
As the final two free practice sessions took place prior to qualifying, Michelin was seeking permission from the FIA to bring in a new supply of tyres for race day.
But Formula One rules stipulate that the same type tyres must be used for qualifying and for the race, so such a move could be open to protest by non-Michelin supplied teams such as Ferrari, which uses Bridgestone tyres.
Minardi and Jordan are the only other two Bridgestone teams.
While only two Michelin-shod cars posted times in the earliest practice overnight, by the fourth free practice all were running.
Agence France-Presse
Source: http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,15662273-23770,00.html
June 19, 2005
Tyre manufacturer Michelin today advised its seven Formula One teams not to race the US Grand Prix unless Ralf Schumacher's tyre failure in practice can be explained or new tyres shipped from France can be used.
"Our advice today is to not run tomorrow's race," said Michelin director of competition Nick Shorrock.
He expanded on a press release issued earlier by the company that said it had "advised on the conditions for tests, qualifying and for the race tomorrow".
"These decisions have been taken in the interest of the safety of the drivers."
Two Toyota drivers, Schumacher and third driver Ricardo Zonta, suffered left rear tyre failures in practice that Michelin has been unable to explain.
Schumacher hit the wall hard enough to have FIA medical officers rule him out of the race as a precaution. He will be replaced by Zonta.
"Despite all the checks that we've done, both here and in our test facilities in Clermont-Ferrand, we have not been able to understand or reproduce the problem of yesterday," the Michelin statement said.
As the final two free practice sessions took place prior to qualifying, Michelin was seeking permission from the FIA to bring in a new supply of tyres for race day.
But Formula One rules stipulate that the same type tyres must be used for qualifying and for the race, so such a move could be open to protest by non-Michelin supplied teams such as Ferrari, which uses Bridgestone tyres.
Minardi and Jordan are the only other two Bridgestone teams.
While only two Michelin-shod cars posted times in the earliest practice overnight, by the fourth free practice all were running.
Agence France-Presse
Source: http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,15662273-23770,00.html
) the way it was pulled off was to be as damaging as possible in a power play of the field against Ecclestone and Ferrari, good one boys you won't have a sport to squabble about if you keep this up.
