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Los Angeles, CA. - Fiasco. Farce. Fraud.
Debacle. Travesty. Formula None. Formula Zero. F.1 own worst enemy.
Media members used such words appropriately to describe the June 19,
2005 Formula One U.S. Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Only six of 20 cars left the front straight starting grid to begin
racing. The other 14 cars, all on Michelin tires, pulled into the
pits together after the warm-up lap by all 20 cars. They parked
their cars for the day because Michelin officials said they could
not guarantee the safety of their tires in the banked 13th turn
(turn one of the oval used for the Indy 500 and
Brickyard 400). Bewildered fans rained boos and displayed derisive
signs throughout the "race" and many walked out in
protest.
Blame is easy to assign. Michelin, the huge
French tire manufacturer, did not supply a tire capable of
navigating the track as it has been configured since the F. 1
"circus" came to Indianapolis in 2000. Their tires were
satisfactory in prior years at Indy, but tires only lasted about ten
laps this year. Michelin reps sought to have a chicane installed in
the banked turn 13 to slow all cars in the interests of safety. Ralf
Schumacher crashed there in practice and injuries forced him to
relinquish his ride to Ricardo Zonta. Seven of the
ten two-car teams were Michelin contract teams. Three teams were on
Bridgestone tires. IMS officials were willing to install a chicane.
Max Mosley, president of Federation
Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the racing governing body,
refused that option that would have allowed all 20 cars to race. By
telephone from Europe, Mosley said it wasn't fair to those who
prepared properly to compete. Michelin had another batch of tires to
send to Indy, but FIA rules require that all teams race on their
qualification run tires. FIA would not revise that rule to give fans
a race, even when all teams but Ferrari agreed to have the race be a
non-points race. IMS invested $50 million in capital improvements to
bring F. 1 racing to Indy in 2000 and pays $15 million to F.1 boss
Ecclestone annually to host the only F.1 USA GP. The IMS
was a victim (with a large financial investment) just as the
estimated 100,000 to 150,000 spectators were victims. Millions of TV
viewers worldwide rightfully felt cheated also. Some broadcast
networks went to alternative programming.
Bernie Ecclestone, the British billionaire/F.1
Management czar for about 30 years, tried to get the seven
boycotting Michelin-shod teams to compete in a meaningful race at
Indy. He was ineffective. Reportedly, he left the track when the
sham of a race was underway with only six cars on the track from the
opening green. Two Ferrari, two Jordan and two Minardi cars occupied
their usual grid positions and circulated the course two by two and
raced only their own teammates. The two Jordans finished a lap down
and the two Minardis finished two laps down. If the 14 parked cars
had raced and pitted every eight to ten laps for new Michelins they
would've been racing for seventh or eighth place
points. As it went down, seventh and eighth place points were not
awarded.
IMS CEO Tony George, who waves the checkered flag
at IMS F.1 GPs annually, and his mother, Mari Hulman George, who
presents trophies to the top three finishers at the podium
ceremonies, did not perform their usual roles in reaction to the
sham "race". Ferrari's one-two drivers, Michael Schumacher
and Rubens Barrichello, were somber and did not spray champagne at
the podium. Schumacher's 84th F.1 victory will certainly be ranked
as his least. Even the winning manufacturer's national anthem
(Italian) ended abruptly as if to conclude the podium ceremonies
quickly. It gave the impression someone or something had died, and
perhaps F.1 racing in the U.S did die at IMS. At least it is on life
support after the 2005 USGP fiasco. A day following the race as
spectators lined
up for ticket refunds, IMS officials hung a sign over the track
entrance that read, "We are disappointed too."
SOLUTION: F.1 created the tire dilemma by
allowing two competing tire manufacturers in F.1. If F.1 had only
one tire manufacturer all ten teams would be in the same boat. They
all would either race or not race and would allow course or tire
changes as necessary. When one tire firm has an edge in speed or
safety it will not relinquish that competitive advantage. NASCAR had
a tire-war problem years ago when Hoosier Tire and Goodyear battled
for supremacy and safety took a back seat to speed. NASCAR
management went to a Goodyear only tire rule. IRL allows only
Firestone Firehawks and CCWS (ex-CART) allows only Bridgestones.
Hence, no tire war problems exist in USA-based racing series. F.1
needs to limit tire manufacturers to one in the interests of safety
and to avoid a repeat of the Indy GP fiasco. If a tire problem
exists the entire GP field must have a common self-interest
solution. If such a rule existed this year, new tires or a chicane
would've been allowed and all 20 cars would have raced.
FIA has summoned the seven USGP boycotting teams
to a hearing June 29 in Europe to justify why they did not compete
at Indy. If FIA, as has been suggested, fines these seven teams a
million or so dollars each, that money should go to the IMS to
reimburse USGP ticket buyers. At the very least, 2005 USGP attendees
should be admitted free to a 2006 F.1 race at the IMS if one is
held. IMS and Indianapolis service providers (hotels, restaurants,
cabs, limos, etc.) want to see F.1 return to Indianapolis because it
is the biggest boon to the local economy (as much as $100 million)
as reported June 21by the Indianapolis Star newspaper.
Several years ago CART had a similar fiasco when
all their teams refused to race on the high-banked Texas Motor
Speedway because drivers practicing for the Sunday TMS race
complained of vertigo and dizziness. With fans in the grandstands
officials deemed the first CART race at TMS too hazardous for their
turbo-charged cars and canceled the race only hours before it was to
start. CART (CCWS) never returned to TMS. IRL (non-turbo-charged)
Indy Cars annually stage some of the closest, most exciting races at
TMS to this date. NASCAR, too, had a driver boycott in 1969 for the
first race at the high-banked Talladega track which drivers called
unsafe. Bill France recruited second-tier drivers and ran the race
without incident. That was the last time Cup drivers boycotted.
F.1 boss Ecclestone, 74, also made news at the
USGP for another reason--his inappropriate, insensitive, politically
incorrect statement in crediting driver Danica Patrick for her Indy
500 performance. Old Bernie spoke about his idea that "women
should all be dressed in white like all other domestic
appliances." Later, Bernie called the quote his English sense
of humor. He continued and said Danica's driving impressed him
because he always thought women couldn't drive and they should be in
the kitchen. Danica was perplexed and bewildered by Bernie's remarks
when told what he said. What was he thinking. Maybe Bernie is losing
it and he should just fade away into the sunset along with the FIA.
Politics always seems to be evident in F.1
racing. In fact, a CART/IRL type split in F.1 ranks may happen after
2007. Competing factions could be well-financed Ferrari against
everyone else. Five manufacturers-BMW, Mercedes, Renault, Honda and
Toyota-and their teams are threatening to break away from F.1 as it
now exists. They may form a new Grand Prix World Championship after
the current Concorde agreement ends following the 2007 season. They
constantly feud with Mosley (FIA) and Ecclestone and are at odds
with Ferrari on cost control. Disgruntled teams want a larger share
of the estimated $900 million worldwide TV rights than their current
23% share. Billionaire Bernie receives the
lion's share of revenue. Greed is a nasty thing and may yet cost him
his empire. It makes sense for disgruntled teams to break away and
let Ferrari, Mosley and Ecclestone hold hands. Without the
disgruntled teams there would be no F.1. After the 2005 USGP
it is time for Mosley, FIA and Ecclestone to exit.
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