US Formula 1 Starts with Six Cars!!!!

[pscholte]

A sad day for racing and especially for those who want to see Formula 1...due to a tire problem with Michelins, and probably to some internal politics and muscle flexing, only 6 Bridgestone-shod cars started the race. Sad sad sad. Totally unfair to the crowd in attendance, but then again some in the crowd are showing THEIR class by throwing stuff on the track...

 

[Win]

One of my Jags has Michelin tires on it - the LAST set it will ever have on it, or any other car I will ever own ....

I sure feel sorry for the people that went to the race.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

I don't blame Michelin. They at least had the onions to admit they had a problem. Ferrari and Bridgestone blocked the chicane and the use of alternate Michelins. I am totally sick about this. I love F-1, but this farce will have far reaching implications. I for one will never buy another Ferrari.

 

[benjamming]

Win,

You aren't saying b/c of the race are you? Michelin did real well at LeMans this weekend.

 

[Win]

quote:

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Originally posted by benjamming:
Win,

You aren't saying b/c of the race are you? Michelin did real well at LeMans this weekend.

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Yep! I hold a grudge a long time. I'll never buy another set - they should have had their act together.

 

[Win]

quote:

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Originally posted by Ron Jeremy:
I for one will never buy another Ferrari.

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ROTFL

 

[benjamming]

quote:

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Originally posted by Ron Jeremy:
I for one will never buy another Ferrari.

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[lewk]

firestone and indy were a bad match one race day last century too!

 

[keith]

Let's see what facts emerge in the next days and weeks. At a minimum, I hope the fans in attendance get full refunds of their tickets.

Tony George must be spitting bullets.

 

[JohnnyO]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8277818/

What the hey? F1 only lets teams use ONE set of tires all weekend? Trying to save a few bucks when the engines cost like $150k apiece?

Another reason why much of the U.S. doesn't give a hoot about F1, and this will turn off a lot of the people who DID show up.

BTW, I did in fact attend the last U.S. Grand Prix in Watkins Glen in 1980.

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

Doesn't make sense why the FIA steadfastly refused to allow teams to change tires when they KNOW the tire issue at hand.

Are these the same guys making decisions at GM??

 

[Ron Jeremy]

quote:

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Originally posted by ToyotaNSaturn:
Doesn't make sense why the FIA steadfastly refused to allow teams to change tires when they KNOW the tire issue at hand.

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Why? Because it is run by European bureaucrats. Nuf said.

 

[Larry the Cable Guy]

quote:

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Originally posted by JohnnyO:
F1 only lets teams use ONE set of tires all weekend? Trying to save a few bucks when the engines cost like $150k apiece?

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No, they are not allowed to change from one manufacturer to another (Michelin to whatever) after they have qualified on them.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

quote:

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Originally posted by Larry the Cable Guy:

quote:

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Originally posted by JohnnyO:
F1 only lets teams use ONE set of tires all weekend? Trying to save a few bucks when the engines cost like $150k apiece?

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No, they are not allowed to change from one manufacturer to another (Michelin to whatever) after they have qualified on them.

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That's not correct. They have to qualify and race on the same set. Changing manufacturer isn't even an option during the season.

 

[Larry the Cable Guy]

WOW!! My bad.

What would happen if a manufacturer stopped producing tires - would all of those teams be out of business for the remainder of the season?

 

[Ron Jeremy]

Larry, I can't see that happening. F-1 is a myriad of lawyers and contracts as witnessed this weekend.

 

[wizzells]

Talk about a bunch of crap. Count me in as one of the few in the US that likes F1. I have 3 buddies that went to this race (couldnt go because of work) and I havent talked to them yet. I can only imagine their reaction since theyre big Renault fans.

 

[Pablo]

What the heck?

Weird. But they shouldn't change the track because a tire manufacturer asks! How can you "blame" Ferrari?

Michelin may have done the OK thing of saying there is a weakness in their tires, but OTOH - how the heck did this happen in the first place and why is it Ferrari's fault?

 

[wizzells]

Yeah, dont think you can blame ferrari in this. Both parties (FIA and Michelin) are at fault here. It should have never escalated to this level. BTW, just talked to one of the friends that went to the race and you cant imagine the number of explatives out of his mouth!

 

[Larry the Cable Guy]

Sounds like a sport that will Darwinize itself.