On June 29 in Paris, the FIA world motorsport council found them guilty of failing to ensure a supply of safe tyres and of refusing to race using the pit lane.

But McLaren chief Ron Dennis and Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner met president Max Mosley and the FIA senate in Monaco today to discuss new evidence.

After the guilty verdicts were announced, the seven teams revealed for the first time advice which suggested criminal proceedings were likely if they had agreed to race at Indianapolis on June 19.

That claim – which is based on an Indiana law stating it is an offence to knowingly put others at risk even if no accident occurred – was the basis of today’s discussions.

Mosley has accepted the seven teams had no alternative but to withdraw and the FIA senate have now asked the world motorsport council to rescind the guilty verdicts.

An FIA statement read: “Having examined the new evidence and discussed it with Mr Dennis and Mr Horner, the Senate was satisfied that the teams were contractually bound to follow the instructions of their tyre supplier.

“Their tyre supplier had expressly prohibited them from racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in its licensed configuration.

“The senate will therefore recommend to the world motorsport council that the guilty verdict of June 29 against the teams be cancelled.

“It is anticipated that this recommendation will be put to the world motorsport council by means of a fax vote in the next few days.”

Today’s decision effectively draws a line under the United States Grand Prix episode, which had threatened to tear the sport apart.