Peter windsor/dave despain

I caught it. Couldn't wait to start hearing the fallout actually.

Peter's view pretty much matches that of the FIA published statement today. And to which I fully agree with as well.

I find it incredulous that people are knocking the FIA for not grossly bending the rules. If they did, you want to talk about opening a can of worms ?? The precedent that would have set would be far worse for F1 than this GP.

 

I caught it live, and AMEN TO THAT!

 

The FIA has bent the rules before and especially when it favored their power mongering; everyone says they should have raced but when one of the cars goes careening into the wall at a buck sixty and change, taking a driver's life and possibly killing/injuring spectators unduely, the same people would be out to skin Michelin, the teams and anyone else for placing the drivers/spectators at "undue risk."
Can't have it both ways.

 

What IMHO is ironic is that if the shoe were on the other foot.... this wouldn't even be on the radar screen.

So guess at the end of the day the FIA needs yet another new rule. One that rules under which circumstance(s) the rules can be bent.

 

FIA did the right thing, they refused to take up the slack for the lack of preparation by Michelin.

I just can't understand the excuses given by some of you on Ferrarichat. Michelin admitted they made a big mistake, so why can't some of you acknowledge this?

The image of F-1 has been damaged for a long time by Michelin, and 7 teams that certainly do not care about F-1 fans.

Arrogance at its best.

 

It's been acknowledged. The problem is Michelin then trying to shift the blame on others for not undertaking Michelin's suggestion of using a chicane or using different tires. They wanted the rules changed because they had an inferior product. As someone else said, perhaps Minardi should demand all racetracks be redesigned and rules altered to help them be more competitive.

Maybe there should be a rule against Montoya overtaking anyone because such manouevers could be deemed dangerous.

 

Race Director Charlie Whiting
Ross Brawn’s drinking buddy released a letter that he got from Michelin with some smart answers as to why they couldn’t use different tyres on Sunday.

But he’s changed the rules for Bridgestone prior to a race so we’ve been here before. It's surprising nobody’s questioned why Whiting changed the tyre rules at the beginning of the 2003 Brazilian GP.

Back in 2003 you were only allowed to take one wet tyre to races, so you had to make your mind up before the event. Bridgestone arrived at Interlagos with their legendary intermediate tyre that was quite good in wet and mixed conditions. Michelin had a full wet that could run in more rain.

When the heavens opened before the race, Whiting delayed the start because the Bridgestone runners wouldn’t have been able to make it round safely. It was clearly Bridgestone’s fault for not bringing a full wet tyre, but as the argument has gone this weekend – they knew the situation…

After delaying the start the field was then sent round Interlagos behind the Safety Car until enough water was taken off the circuit. Had they released the field when it was suitable for the Michelins on full wets, then Fisichella would never have won the race in his Jordan and Kimi Raikkonen may well have got the win.

Nobody complained because it was a safety issue. Fast forward two years and Whiting is not prepared to compromise in another safety situation. This interpretation of the rules when it suits them makes F1 fans deeply suspicius - it's like there was an agenda here from the FIA.

 

Great program, although I don't agree with all of Dave's points. I do totally agree with everything Peter said though.

 

When you race professionally, you make adjustments for the equipment you are using that day and race. If it meant slowing in turn 13 and accepting a lower finsisher position, so be it. The equipment will be improved in quality by the next race and you will get your chance to shine again. Spoken thru experience............

 

Where were the saftey Police when Kimi had a major issue with his Michelin's a few weeks ago? Seems everyone agreed he should stay out to get the points even if his tires and suspension "might" fail....we all know it did. Talk about can't have it both ways!

 

The 7 teams that did not race should be ashamed of themselves. They have completly forgotten why F1 exists.... THE FANS. Out of total selfishness, they let the fans down. How dare them think that by whining and complaining, that the rules would change in their favor. Michelin made a HUGE, unforgetable mistake- and they should be held financially responsible.

 

What show is this? When is it on? I'd like to see a replay.....

 

The guys are referring to Windtunnel with Dave Despain. The show airs live Sunday nights from 9:00-11:00PM. They feature guests and its more like a radio call in show where the guests take calls, discuss all aspects of racing and general discourse.

I dont always agree with Dave Despain and find him a bit boring at times but the show is interesting especially when there is a good guest like Paul Tracy last week and when Jeff Gordon was on couple of months ago. Gordon let it slip that NASCAR officals talk to him on the radio (ooops) and that he finds that when he wins a race, all of the post race hoopla is "a buzz kill".

What has been on my mind is that Michelin has/had a facility to produce tires on sight as recently as two years ago. This made it easier for them to produce compounds to match the track and conditions perfectly.

Was this approach banned or is/was this situation just for the European rounds and not the fly away races?

BHW

 

Amen. Undue risk... This is a GD MOTOR SPORT! F1 considers itself the best of motor sport (complete BS even before Sunday) and something like Sunday is even possible??

Michelin did what they had to do. A tire manufacture is obligated to their customers to warn about a potential safety issue. The racing teams are obligated to their customers as well to .... GO OUT AND RACE!! You *ucking me?!?! An acceptable way of dealing with a race day equipment issue is simply sit it out??? Are the supporters of this so-called sport worth so little?? This so-called racing series is an absolute joke.

How is it that so many of you consider this acceptable. No wonder F1 has grown into such garbage racing. 70% of the entire field does a parade lap then just packs up and says FU to 120,000 fans... at the only F1 race in the States... at one of the most famous venues in the world and it is the fault of the organizers for not changing the rules the morning of the race??? It OK they didn't race because someone might have been hurt?? lol HUH?!?!?!

Tires you brought might be bad in ONE turn well then... adjust the tires... adjust your racing strategy... slow down, monitor tire wear and race for 4th... do something but you pack-up and go home?!?! WTF is that?! Oh yeah... adjust the course and make the event worthless to the teams that came to Indy to actually race at Indy. Great idea, this is how every team should react after practice when some equipment problem surfaces. My brakes aren't as good as his... so eliminate half the turns for me or I wont race! Gotta be kidding me.

Then Ferrari doesn't even throw the poor F1 Indy dogs a bone and allow their drivers to actually race one another for a change.

My God... Formula One REALLY SUCKS!!!

 

Whatever floats your boat.

I'm not saying that I wouldn't race, what I was putting forward was why Michelin was uncomfortable sending a Michelin shod driver, out on track, possibly resulting in a fatality or serious injury - it was a matter of limited liability by a corporation.

The teams that decided not to race, under the circumstance, are also protecting their insterest (just like those teams that chose to race and did so) and the interest any F1 team has acrewed in its equipment, drivers and prep time is considerable.

 

If the FiA was so diligent about keeping the rules as they are, why do they seem to change and want to change the qualifying rules every other race. They [Bernie and the FiA] only do things to help make themselves more money.

I think the only reason they want to reduce cost in F1 is for 2 reasons:
1. So the teams won't ask for a bigger share of the money pot
2. So more teams either remain in F1 or more teams join F1.

I really don't think they care that much about saving teams money.