Six Michelin Teams respond to findings - press release

[mp356a]

Six Michelin Teams respond to findings
Will lodge an appeal against WMSC findings

Teams unhappy with World Motor Sport
Council findings - will appeal

Joint Press Release from BAR Honda, BMW Williams, Renault F1 Team, Sauber Petronas, Team McLaren Mercedes, Toyota Motorsport GmbH.

The six Formula One Michelin teams identified above are very disappointed by the decision of the World Motor Sport Council to find them guilty of two of the five charges brought against them by the FIA in relation to the 2005 U.S. Grand Prix at Indianapolis.

1) In relation to the finding that they failed to ensure that they were in possession of suitable tyres, the Teams point out that they reasonably relied on Michelin, an approved FIA tyre supplier and a highly reputable manufacturer of tyres worldwide, to provide suitable tyres for that race. As Michelin have already acknowledged, they were responsible for the supply of unsuitable tyres for the Indianapolis circuit. The FIA's decision accepts that there were 'strong mitigating circumstances' for the Teams. In truth, those circumstances provided a complete answer to the charge, given that the Teams cannot be held responsible for what occurred.

2) In relation to the finding that the Teams wrongfully refused to allow their cars to start the race having regard to their right to use the pit lane on each lap, the Teams respond as follows. The charges suggested only one means by which the Teams could safely have raced (the use of a speed restriction). On that charge, the Teams were found not guilty. The Teams cannot understand how they can be found guilty by reference to another proposed solution, which was not part of the charges brought against them, which was not suggested by the FIA at Indianapolis, which was considered unsafe and which, in any event, would not have achieved a satisfactory race for the fans.



The Teams therefore will be lodging an appeal against each of these findings.

The Teams explained to the World Motor Sport Council that, in the light of the clear and written advice from Michelin that it was unsafe to race at Indianapolis on the tyres supplied by that company, the Teams had no choice but to decline to race. Any other decision would have been irresponsible. Nineteen of the current Formula One drivers have expressed their agreement with the decision of the Teams.

The Teams much regret that the American public were unable to enjoy a race involving all ten Formula One teams, and would like to express their thanks to the many fans who have communicated their support for the stance taken by the Teams and by Michelin on grounds of safety.

The Teams are pleased that Michelin have agreed to compensate fans who attended the race.

The Teams very much look forward to the next Grand Prix on Sunday.

Press Release
Six Michelin Teams


---------------------

So who is the 20th driver?

[Kicking-back]

Probably one of the Jordan pair.

[Goodbye]

Probably Shoemaker Snr.

[Adam43]

Do the third drivers count as current F1 drivers?

[Knowlesy]

Originally Posted by Goodbye

Probably Shoemaker Snr.

Probably not.

[Kicking-back]

Actually, thinking about it, it could be Ralf - as he wasn't in the race.

So 19 of the 20 drivers racing at Magny Cours means essentially everyone who "raced" at Indy.

[Kicking-back]

The truth now, here are the signatures.

It's the Michelin racers + testers + Minardi team.

Christijan Albers
Fernando Alonso
Jenson Button
David Coulthard
Pedro de la Rosa
Giancarlo Fisichella
Patrick Friesacher
Nick Heidfeld
Christian Klein
Felipe Massa
Juan Pablo Montoya
Kimi Raikkonen
Takuma Sato
Ralf Schumacher
Jarno Trulli
Jacques Villeneuve
Mark Webber
Alexander Wurz
Ricardo Zonta

[ASCII Man]

And... no Michael Schumacher!

No Barrichello either...

Say, don't those two guys incidentally drive for a certain team with a red livery and a prancing horse?

What a coincidence!

[Adam43]

Why would they object? They know less about the problem than the other drivers (except the Minrdi drivers). I see nothing odd there. It is more odd that the Minardi drivers are included.

[Kicking-back]

Simpler than that - Barrichello, Schumacher, Monteiro and Karthikeyan use Bridgestone tyres, so are unlikely to have signed a document for Michelin.

Albers and Friesacher had to sign because of Stoddart's political role.

[ASCII Man]

I see, well that does seem to make sense...

[andy_b]

wonder why Red Bull havent joined the other six

[BootsOntheSide]

Did Ferrari and Jordan really say "go for it, race on tyres whichare likely to be dangerous, and could cause a fatal accident"? Or are the teams trying to spin this situation in their own way. Otherwise, I'm inclined to agreewith what the teams ahve put forward - they are being charged because the FIA has no power to charge Michelin. Have Red Bull released a statement yet - that'll be funny.....

Now I think about it, aren't Red Bull supposed to be cosying up to Ferari and the FIA next season? Will that include Bridgestone tyres and an obligation to speak PR-Spiel?

[Kicking-back]

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

Did Ferrari and Jordan really say "go for it, race on tyres whichare likely to be dangerous, and could cause a fatal accident"?

No, they said nothing about it, because they don't run on Michelin tyres.

No-one's accusing them of anything else.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

Now I think about it, aren't Red Bull supposed to be cosying up to Ferari and the FIA next season? Will that include Bridgestone tyres and an obligation to speak PR-Spiel?

There does seem to be a definite gang of three now.And how different they all are.Humoured,humourless and Humbled.

[Don K]

Originally Posted by mp356a

Nineteen of the current Formula One drivers have expressed their agreement with the decision of the Teams.

Would that be 19 of the 20 (which might imply 5 drivers from the Bridgestone teams), or 19 of the 24 (which might imply only 2 drivers from the Bridgestone teams)?

[Don K]

Originally Posted by ASCII Man

And... no Michael Schumacher!

No Barrichello either...

Say, don't those two guys incidentally drive for a certain team with a red livery and a prancing horse?

What a coincidence!

In other words:

- All drivers from the teams present in Paris did sign.
- None of the drivers from the teams *not* present in Paris did sign.

Which makes me wonder:
Did anybody even *ask* those other drivers to sign?

[Kicking-back]

It's the Michelin racers, plus Friday third drivers and the Minardi pair

[andy_b]

Originally Posted by Don K

In other words:

- All drivers from the teams present in Paris did sign.

Its dated Thursday 23rd I believe

Also, does that mean Red Bull didnt turn up in Paris?

[Kicking-back]

No, Red Bull were in Paris - they had to meet the FIA.

Their drivers names are on that list.


However, Red Bull has not said it is appealling the guilty verdict, but the other teams are doing so.

[Inigo Montoya]

Perhaps Red Bull is just smart enough to realize that accepting partial responsibility for the fiasco at Indy is in their best interest, from a PR point of view.

[BootsOntheSide]

ITV's report on the subject says that only one driver refused ot sgn, so clearly they've fallen for "19 current F1 drivers" and interpreted it as "19 current RACE drivers", when that clearly isn't the case.

[alfasud]

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

It's the Michelin racers, plus Friday third drivers and the Minardi pair

So in other words the ones who's bosses told them to sign.

Also including ones like DC that we heard on the pit radio wanting to race.

[mp356a]

Signed, 23 June 2005

Christijan Albers, Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button, David Coulthard, Pedro de la Rosa, Giancarlo Fisichella, Patrick Friesacher, Nick Heidfeld, Christian Klien, Felipe Massa, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kimi Raikkonen, Takuma Sato, Ralf Schumacher, Jarno Trulli, Jacques Villeneuve, Mark Webber, Alexander Wurz and Ricardo Zonta.

[mp356a]

Oops. Sorry KB. Missed your post.