Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/06/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I have just got home from the US and can give a view from my perspective, which contains more facts than I have seen printed so far. Michelin had a major problem. There were two tyre failures on the Toyota and several other tyres showed external signs of the onset of failure on other Toyota and some McLaren tyres. At first it seemed to be related to tyre pressure and suspension geometry/setting. Unfortunately following x-ray analysis it was clear that even the cars who's tyres had no outwards sign of deterioration showed signs of internal degradation such that a 10 lap old tyre was more like one that had done a whole event. The design of tyre has been testing and racing for many thousands of miles so everybody was baffled by the sudden incidence of the problem. From Friday through 'till Sunday morning test rigs in France an the US were trying to simulate the problem without managing to do so. Perhaps it is a manufacturing problem with this batch of tyres but by race day an explanation had not been found. It was proposed that, for the benefit of the crowd of paying spectators, a chicane could be put before the highest load point allowing the race to go ahead safely and all the Michelin teams would line up behind all the Bridgestone shod cars and accept being ineligible for World Championship points. Otherwise it was considered to be too dangerous to run as a failure would risk the driver and even perhaps spectators. This was considered unacceptable by Max Mosely, president of the governing body, so he instructed Charlie Whiting, the race director, not to allow it. It seems to me to have been a "correct" but pig headed, narrow minded and short sighted decision. We had a World Championship race but the fans were robbed of a good spectacle, given the offer from the teams with a Michelin contract the points scored in the race would have gone to Ferrari anyway, the losers were the paying spectators. Clearly, the fundamental problem was the Michelin cock-up but this is a genuine mistake and the reason still a mystery and anybody putting about any other story is not in possession of the facts. The disaster could have been ameliorated for the paying spectators but the FIA excercised their right to insist that no changes should be made to the race format. This resulted in only the 6 cars with the Bridgestone tyres taking part. It should be noted that Max Mosely is a strong advocate of a one tyre formula for Formula 1 and has been trying for some time to get agreement to do this. Favourite to win the contract would be Bridgestone. FWIW I personally am also in favour of a 1 tyre formula. Hope this answers some questions. Frank On 20 Jun, 2005, at 16:41, Adam Bridge wrote: > I was astounded at the debacle in Indy when only 6 . . . SIX > cars . . . raced. > > I can't imagine anything worse for the US market. > > What the HELL was going on? Was this some deep political thing? > Michelin with it's pants in a bundle? What? > > If this keeps happening Leica will actually sell the DMR and show a > digital M! Apple changes to Intel and now THIS. > > Sheesh. > > Adam > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >