David J Marguglio wrote:
1. Michelin was caught out with a unsafe and poorly constructed tire.
2. Michelin attempted to remedy the problem with new tire, but failed as they were “able to replicate the failure” in their own testing (I can even imagine the equipment and technology that they must possess.)
3. FIA denied the request to add a chicane based on a number of factors, not the least of which being, that it would completely change the type of track which could change the necessary brake setup, aero packages, etc. etc. This change would not only level a playing field to the unfair detriment of the B-shod teams, it could pose additional risks to all teams. Race director Charlie Whiting summed it up like this: “To change the course in order to help some of the teams with a performance problem caused by their failure to bring suitable equipment to the race would be a breach of the rules and grossly unfair to those teams which have come to Indianapolis with the correct tyres.”
4. FIA outlined a few options for the Michelin teams including: slowing through turn 13, using new tires and incurring a penalty, or repeatedly changing tires subject to safety reasons.
5. The Michelin-shod teams chose to pass on all of those options and to withdraw from the race.
There are two additional effects of this debacle: first, the teams now have a better and more public case for withdrawing from the FIA at the end of the Concord Agreement, and, secondly, Bernie can lay the groundwork for moving the USGP to another, more lucrative (for him of course) location. I think that there are larger and more nefarious forces at work here and as is usual with F1, nothing is what it seems. Too bad we all have to suffer through it.
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