20 F1 drivers pull off the track

[AcquiredTarget]

linkage (http://msn.foxsports.com/motor/story/3698068?GT1=6555) 20 drivers pull of the track after the warm-up run. WTF? After two Michelin tires failed in Friday practice sessions - one causing a wreck that prevented Ralf Schumacher from competing - the tiremaker ruled that its rubber was unsafe for this track. Michelin was rebuffed when it asked the FIA, the series governing body, to ease its rule forbidding teams to change tires after qualifying. The FIA also refused to consider installing a chicane.Sounds likes its more of a quality problem that a track problem.The teams worked up until the final moments for a resolution, even lining up on the grid and taking the warm-up lap. Then they pulled off, climbing out of their cars at the same time the remaining six drivers started the race.I'm glad that they worked on a solution until the final momemnt, but the final moment was before they climbed into the cars. When they take the car onto the track, that ain't the final moment. They've commited. If they were so concerned about the safety of the situation, they shouldn't have taken the cars out. Hell, even if they got a chicane, it sill would have taken some time to modify the course. They would have had to taken their cars off the track anyway. Granted, the FIA could've eased their ruling, but the cars should have never been taken out if the teams were concerned about the safety.

This doesn't help my beloved F-1 grow in popularity here in the U.S. </rant

[Ender]

saw this on ESPN this morning, sucks. Especially when my dad works for michelin >_<

[Burr]

That was a complete debacle. The FIA absolutely should have eased its ruling in light of the empirical evidence. You're trying to put on a show to win new fans and instead you'd rather be anal retentive about a rule? That rule is put in to stop cheating. Safety trumps that as it was clearly not about cheating. I don't blame the drivers at all. You want to be able to race without fearing your tires are gonna blow out and kill you. The fans have every right to be totally irate with F1 right now. All that money to go watch only 6 drivers dick around on the track, and no explanation at all as to why the other 14 left.

Also have to love the head of F1's sexist comments about Danica Patrick. "You know I've got one of those wonderful ideas ... women should be dressed in white like all the other domestic appliances." Real fucking smooth. :rolleyes:

It kills me to see the fate of open wheel racing in the hands of such total fucking morons.

[Firecube]

I agree with Burr. I like F1 racing too, but, some of the FIA are boneheads.

[AcquiredTarget]

Granted, the FIA could've eased up the ruling. I agree with that. Since there was a major safety concern, those cars really shouldn't have left the pit. saw this on ESPN this morning, sucks. Especially when my dad works for michelin >_<That sucks. Their stock has already taken a hit. Does he have an opinion on this?

[JTizzle]

I saw this last night. There's talks that yesterday's outrage amongst the fans might prevent F1 from coming back to the States.

[Hendrix]

That was a complete debacle. The FIA absolutely should have eased its ruling in light of the empirical evidence. You're trying to put on a show to win new fans and instead you'd rather be anal retentive about a rule? That rule is put in to stop cheating. Safety trumps that as it was clearly not about cheating. I don't blame the drivers at all. You want to be able to race without fearing your tires are gonna blow out and kill you. The fans have every right to be totally irate with F1 right now. All that money to go watch only 6 drivers dick around on the track, and no explanation at all as to why the other 14 left.

Also have to love the head of F1's sexist comments about Danica Patrick. "You know I've got one of those wonderful ideas ... women should be dressed in white like all the other domestic appliances." Real fucking smooth. :rolleyes:

It kills me to see the fate of open wheel racing in the hands of such total fucking morons.


I agree that the FIA are morons more often than not....BUT....In this case, they were correct to say no to the chicane. By putting that in, they'd effectively be screwing Bridgestone, who showed up prepared, with a tire that was able to hold up to the vertical loading in turn 13.

The tire companies were told before coming to Indy, to come prepared with 2 separate tires. One with performance in mind, and a backup that was built for durability. Michelin dropped the ball, plain and simple. This debacle is 100% their fault.

And about Danica.....As talented as she is, keep in mind she's yet to do anything to make herself stand out from any of the other drivers in the IRL. Bernie's comments were stupid, but at the same time, there's ZERO reason why any team in F1 would be interested in her driving for them.

[Burr]

Yes Danica's been getting way too much attention (she's a good driver on a good team that isn't getting enough credit) but that was wholly uncalled for and I don't think reporters were asking if she was worthy of F1 either.

[Firecube]

Yes Danica's been getting way too much attention (she's a good driver on a good team that isn't getting enough credit) but that was wholly uncalled for and I don't think reporters were asking if she was worthy of F1 either.
Michael Shumacher pwns. Period.