Formula 1 - U.S. Grand Prix (or not...)
What a f**king shambles.
All the details would take too long to go into here but the 'race' was run by the six Bridgestone runners only (Ferrari, Jordan, Minardi) with all the Michelin-shod cars going back to their garages after the formation lap. Michelin could not guarantee the safety of the tyres after a series of failures in the run-up to the race - the left rear giving out on the banking on Turn 13.
The finest minds in the sport could not come up with a solution that would result in a decent race for us to watch. The whole thing went down to the wire with the entire grid still lining up. The Guardian sums it up for us, here. Grandprix.com's race report, here. There's background on both sites for the sordid details.
ITV-F1's coverage was sober but the presenters rose to the task. Martin Brundle and James Allen commentated on the farce well (here) and gave us detailed background on what was happening, with Ted Kravitz and Louise Goodman giving team, driver and fan reactions. Mark Blundell's misery and embarrassment at the situation were very clear as he spoke to Jim Rosenthal.
Angry fans were interviewed who had come from all over the U.S. and beyond (people from Panama, Mexico and the U.K. were giving their views). One guy had saved two months salary for tickets and travel expenses. He'll just be getting the refund on the race ticket. Spectators were throwing cans and bottles onto the race-track (although I'd imagine they were entitled to do a lot worse given the way they'd been treated.)
That F1's image in the difficult U.S. market is damaged, is not in doubt.
The origins of the specific tyre problem aside, the fact remains that Formula 1 was unable - or unwilling - to search, negotiate or compromise for a solution that would ensure the fans saw a decent race.
And that is a f**king insult. To all the sport's fans and especially those spectators at Indianapolis.
I think Formula 1 should be booted out of the United States for what they collectively did yesterday - preferably for at least three years. The United States has a strong and worthy tradition of open-wheel racing and does not deserve to have the world of F1 sticking an up-raised middle digit at them.
Three years out would hit the self-important and over-weening egos involved right where it hurts. In the wallet. The massive constructors and sponsors who are part of F1 (a lot of them American) would make their feelings felt about being denied most of the North American market - they would put the bite on or desert in droves.
One fan interviewed asked "NASCAR wouldn't do this. Champcar wouldn't do this. Why would Formula 1?"
Oh, that's an easy one, mate. In NASCAR and Champcar the fans come first. In Formula 1, we don't.
Update (21.06.2005): James Allen tells it like it is. All salient points covered.
All the details would take too long to go into here but the 'race' was run by the six Bridgestone runners only (Ferrari, Jordan, Minardi) with all the Michelin-shod cars going back to their garages after the formation lap. Michelin could not guarantee the safety of the tyres after a series of failures in the run-up to the race - the left rear giving out on the banking on Turn 13.
The finest minds in the sport could not come up with a solution that would result in a decent race for us to watch. The whole thing went down to the wire with the entire grid still lining up. The Guardian sums it up for us, here. Grandprix.com's race report, here. There's background on both sites for the sordid details.
ITV-F1's coverage was sober but the presenters rose to the task. Martin Brundle and James Allen commentated on the farce well (here) and gave us detailed background on what was happening, with Ted Kravitz and Louise Goodman giving team, driver and fan reactions. Mark Blundell's misery and embarrassment at the situation were very clear as he spoke to Jim Rosenthal.
Angry fans were interviewed who had come from all over the U.S. and beyond (people from Panama, Mexico and the U.K. were giving their views). One guy had saved two months salary for tickets and travel expenses. He'll just be getting the refund on the race ticket. Spectators were throwing cans and bottles onto the race-track (although I'd imagine they were entitled to do a lot worse given the way they'd been treated.)
That F1's image in the difficult U.S. market is damaged, is not in doubt.
The origins of the specific tyre problem aside, the fact remains that Formula 1 was unable - or unwilling - to search, negotiate or compromise for a solution that would ensure the fans saw a decent race.
And that is a f**king insult. To all the sport's fans and especially those spectators at Indianapolis.
I think Formula 1 should be booted out of the United States for what they collectively did yesterday - preferably for at least three years. The United States has a strong and worthy tradition of open-wheel racing and does not deserve to have the world of F1 sticking an up-raised middle digit at them.
Three years out would hit the self-important and over-weening egos involved right where it hurts. In the wallet. The massive constructors and sponsors who are part of F1 (a lot of them American) would make their feelings felt about being denied most of the North American market - they would put the bite on or desert in droves.
One fan interviewed asked "NASCAR wouldn't do this. Champcar wouldn't do this. Why would Formula 1?"
Oh, that's an easy one, mate. In NASCAR and Champcar the fans come first. In Formula 1, we don't.
Update (21.06.2005): James Allen tells it like it is. All salient points covered.
posted by Scattergun @ 2:55 pm
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