mmj_uk said:The sad thing is that this whole tyre fiasco is more exciting than F1 has ever been over the last few years.
ashtray_head said:Its unfair to all the fans NOT to see a race!
Rebelius said:i've just got home and turned the telly on...
what's wrong with the Michelin tyres? why can't they race without a chicane? this is strange
Over Clocker said:I wouldn't say that, this season has been excellent, most people think!
Joe T said:AFAIK there needs to be 12 cars on the grid for the race to start. This means that 3 Michelin teams need to be on the grid and can then retire if they choose.
Over Clocker said:All teams agreed to the chicane except, you guessed it, Ferrari! The 2 other Bridgestone teams agreed with a chicane.
Latest speculation is that unless a chicane is put in the Michelin runners will all retire at will very early.
I like DCs idea, put in a chicane and allow all Bridgestone runners to start at the front of the grid.
Mal
Fire 1 said:A chicane is not needed, the Michelin runners just need to slow down in Turn 13. Doing the same job as a chicane. This does hinder the Bridgestone teams and Michelin runners (Mclaren) who can run.
This will allow them to still race but not go for the win but a podium instead as they should still beat the Jordans and Minardis.
Fire 1 said:A chicane is not needed, the Michelin runners just need to slow down in Turn 13. Doing the same job as a chicane. This does hinder the Bridgestone teams and Michelin runners (Mclaren) who can run.
Anyway, it is too late to build a chicane 30 mins before the race starts.
This will allow them to still race but not go for the win but a podium instead as they should still beat the Jordans and Minardis.
Nine of the ten teams have agreed to leave the pits and take part in the US Grand Prix if a chicane is installed. Ferrari are saying the decision is down to the FIA, who have said no chicane should be installed. With less an hour until the race gets underway, there is still no solution. The following is a statement from Michelin.
The intensive investigations that have been undertaken in the last 24 hours by our laboratory and technical teams in France and United States concerning the incidents that occurred on the Toyota cars during the free practice test of Friday, have allowed Michelin to reach the following conclusions.
Given the combination of oval exit speed of the F1 cars and the subsequent down forces experienced by the tyres Michelin is not able to guarantee that such incidents would not reoccur during race conditions, and therefore Michelin is not able to guarantee the total safety of the drivers.
As a result Michelin, in total agreement with our partner teams has asked the FIA that a chicane, allowing the reduction of car speed be installed at the entrance to the oval. In this condition the Indianapolis F1 GP would be able to take place with the tyres that we used during the qualification.
This proposition answers three Michelin objectives: The safety of the drivers, the support of our partner teams and the interest of the race for the F1 fans.
This is the end of Michellin in F1 and the end of F1 in North America