I don't know how many F1 fans we have here, but the Indianapolis Grand Prix that just happened is worth discussing methinks.
Basically, due to Michelin having some critical fault in their tires, only six out of twenty cars raced today. It was, I suppose, good at least for Karthikeyan, Albers and Monteiro (who got third) as they never get good finishing positions, but the race truly was nothing more than a farce.
As far as I can tell, it was all because the FIA (and Ferrari) wouldn't allow a chicane to be put into the last turn on the race to allow reduced ware on the compromised Michelins meaning that it just wasn't safe for the drivers.
I don't know about what anyone else thinks, but it looks to me like another daft management decision from the FIA on top of new, silly rules like allowing only one set of tires a race and having only one engine every two races.
hmmm didn't get to see it, but wow, only 6 racers?
**clicks over to his forza motorsport forum(forzacentral.com**
Well i can see lots of owners of the companies that couldn't race be cutting there contracts from michelin. On top of that, respect of F1 in the Us is now almost ruined. God this was a bad blow to the racing fans.
I was watching the NASCAR race at Michigan, but I did watch the F1 race during commercials. That is why F1 is no longer popular in the U.S. Yeesh, I hope that doesn't happen with goodyear in NASCAR. I feel bad for those who didn't get to race.
As an F1 fan for about a decade and a half, I've never seen anything like it and I hope I never do again.
What got to me was the fact that Michelin couldn't replace the existing sets of tyres with something flown in without breaking five rules.
Surely there should be a sixth, over-arcing rule reminding the F1 industry that for all its concentration about money and rules, an awful lot of that money comes from the audience who're giving them their time in the first place, and they should be concerned with compromising rather than small print?
It was the drivers I felt sorry for - and not just the poor souls who wanted to race and couldn't. I might not like Michael Schumacher, but he didn't deserve to nearly get a beer can bounced off his helmet at 180mph - it wasn't any fault of the drivers'.
I've got quite a lengthy opinion on this, but I'll wait to see what everyone else has to say first.
There were talks earlier about having only one tyre manufacturer in the sport (at the moment, there are two; Michelin and Bridgestone), and I guess that this event will probably enforce that argument.
If these new tyre regulations hadnt have come in at the start of the championship, I wouldn't be surprised if this whole thing never happened. It looks to me that these dodgy tyres were the result of the manufacturers compensating for the fact theyre getting pushed so hard.
I'm guessing that this'll be the last Indy Grand Prix. Apparently there were talks of developing a Las Vegas track as well, but I wouldn't be surprised if that won't happen now.
I think the main problem was that the bigwigs forgot this was about entertainment. I'm not saying that they should have gone out on unsafe tyres, but I'm sure there must have been some ways around it - even if it would have been at the cost of some championship points.
All that said, I agree with Sam; theres no reason to throw beer cans at the racers. You could end up seriously hurting someone, and it was hardly their fault anyway.
Random note: I didn't know that 'tyre' was spelt 'tire' in America. You learn something new every day.
From what i was watching on English TV and lessoning to on radio 5 live (better than the TV imo)
The tires were flawed and where failing.
The FIA wouldnt allow a chicane because they where not authorised to sanction and licence for the race, and if they did the track was certified safe 'as is' and with a chicane that certification was void and thus there would be aloud any marshals, safety crews and other standard things, plus the race would be unofficial.
I dont know about the people who where there (as I could see where rather hacked off) I enjoyed the race and I was happy that the bottom teals actually got points (as harsh as that sounds, as you could see by the Jordons guys reaction he didnt care that there was only 6 racers HR won third place and he showed that he didnt give a dam =D )
*gets off soap box*
Ok im done lol
I watched Wind Tunnel on Speed Channel and it was mostly aboout the USGP (Wind Tunnel is a general racing discussion call-in show). Some of the callers had some harsh comments that included moving the USGP to another track. F1 probably forgot this is about the fans. NASCAR however, takes the opposite approach.In one of their commercials, driver Jimmie Johnson and his crew chief, Chad Knous(sp?) are enjoying a victory until they realise no else is there and feel dissapointed. After that, the Nextel yellow banner appears and fans can be heard in the background. Then the following text appears on the screen IIRC, "Its nothing without the fans. Nextel congratulates(sp?) all of its fans for a great season." My opinion may be biased as I am a huge NASCAR fan but I do enjoy watching other forms of motorsports.
