FIA delays punishment for Indy debacle
World motorsport governing body the FIA have deferred punishment for the United States Grand Prix fiasco to give Michelin and their teams time to restore Formula One’s tainted image.
The seven Michelin teams were summoned to an FIA world motorsport council meeting in Paris today to explain why they refused to start the race at Indianapolis, leaving a farcical six-car race.
The teams – Renault, McLaren, Williams, Toyota, Sauber, Red Bull and BAR - were found guilty of failing to arrive at Indianapolis with proper tyres and wrongfully refusing to allow their cars to race after Michelin issued a safety warning.
However, the teams were cleared of charges of failing to inform race stewards of their intention not to race, refusing to race subject to a speed limit and combining to put on a spectacle damaging to Formula One.
Punishment was deferred until September 14, by which time the FIA hope Michelin – who they are unable to punish directly – will act to restore Formula One’s image, particularly in the United States.
