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Qualifying Results for the US GP :
Code:
1 16 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:10.625
2 9 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes 1:10.694
3 3 Jenson Button BAR-Honda 1:11.277
4 6 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault 1:11.290
5 1 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 1:11.369
6 5 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:11.380
7 2 Rubens Barrichello Ferrari 1:11.431
8 4 Takuma Sato BAR-Honda 1:11.497
9 7 Mark Webber Williams-BMW 1:11.527
10 12 Felipe Massa Sauber-Petronas 1:11.555
11 10 Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren-Mercedes 1:11.681
12 11 Jacques Villeneuve Sauber-Petronas 1:11.691
13 17 Ricardo Zonta Toyota 1:11.754
14 15 Christian Klien Red Bull Racing 1:12.132
15 8 Nick Heidfeld Williams-BMW 1:12.430
16 14 David Coulthard Red Bull Racing 1:12.682
17 18 Tiago Monteiro Jordan-Toyota 1:13.462
18 21 Christijan Albers Minardi-Cosworth 1:13.632
19 19 Narain Karthikeyan Jordan-Toyota 1:13.776
20 20 Patrick Friesacher Minardi-Cosworth 1:14.494
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So that’s the grid. It now remains to be seen who races, and on what rubber, after Michelin admitted they may not be able to recommend their teams racing on their current tyres. It follows Toyota’s two tyre-related incidents on Friday, the cause of which Michelin have still been unable to pin down.
They have despatched Barcelona-specification tyres from their base at Clermont-Ferrand in France and the shipment is due to arrive in Indianapolis on Sunday morning. These tyres have stiffer sidewalls to cope with the high G loadings on the Circuit de Catalunya. However, it is not simply a matter of the FIA, via the stewards, considering a mass appeal from the Michelin runners to be allowed to substitute the new rubber.
Before practice this morning, Michelin advised teams on rear suspension camber angles and tyre pressures to alleviate chances of other cars experiencing the problems that hit Zonta and Schumacher Jnr on Friday, and nobody had any serious problems in either practice or qualifying. So some Michelin teams will want to stay with what they have, especially as they have had the chance to assess it in practice. However, some may be worried about tyre wear, which may be exacerbated by the mandated increase in tyre pressure which, in conjunction with the camber changes, has in some cases resulted in oversteer.
It is unlikely that final decisions will be taken until Sunday morning, but it is important to bear in mind that the problems have only concerned two Toyotas. Nobody else has experienced any problems. However, Renault chief Flavio Briatore said that if authorisation is not forthcoming from the FIA to switch tyres, Renault will not race.
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FIA decides the teams must decide ..
Quote:In light of Friday's two failures on the Toyotas, Michelin told the FIA that they are unsure the tyres used in qualifying are safe to race unless the speeds in Turns 12 and 13 can be reduced, and that they will not allow the tyres to be used on the existing track layout.
In response, the FIA has outlined a number of options available to Michelin, the most obvious being to instruct their teams to run at reduced speeds through the final corner, while not obstructing other cars.
If Michelin teams were to run the new tyres they would face a penalty. The FIA stated that this was unlikely to be exclusion from the race, but that it would be heavy enough to ensure teams were not tempted to change tyres after qualifying at future events.
Another option available to the teams would be running the existing tyres, but changing them frequently if they could show this was needed on safety grounds and if no competitive advantage was gained. Using more than their allocated tyres could, however, present further complications.
Finally, the FIA ruled out the possibility of modifying the track to slow the entry into Turn 13, as this would be outside the rules and also unfair to Michelin’s Bridgestone competitors who have had no problems with their tyres.
After receiving these guidelines, Michelin went back to the FIA on Sunday morning, repeating their requests to have the speeds in Turns 12 and 13 somehow reduced.
In his response FIA Race Director Charlie Whiting stated: "As explained in our earlier letter, your teams have a choice of running more slowly in Turn 12/13, running a tyre not used in qualifying (which would attract a penalty) or repeatedly changing a tyre (subject to valid safety reasons). It is for them to decide. We have nothing to add."
What the Michelin teams will actually do remains unclear. Some are likely to be unhappy if they have to run different tyres to those they tested all through practice, and there has even been speculation that some might simply take the start and then retire. More news to follow as developments occur.
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Just got home after a wonderful weekend and am just in time for the race which might not happen!!!
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lols Wrote:Just got home after a wonderful weekend and am just in time for the race which might not happen!!!
I am sure it will Lols .. Michelin tyres arrived from Europe with strenghthened side walls.
Enjoy the race
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Well is it gonna happen or not.........
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Seems like the Michelin drivers will go into the pits after the formation lap and 6 Bridgestone drivers will drive.
What a :curse: JOKE ! :curse: !!!
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Yip I was right - a damn disgrace !!!
6 cars running ... all on Bridgestones.
I for one will boycot Michelin for the rest of my life :curse: !!!!
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:haha:
I can't believe this ... its a farce
the fantasy game will look good after this
:woof:
did these tyres vote NON
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TheDuck Wrote::haha:
I can't believe this ... its a farce
the fantasy game will look good after this
:woof:
did these tyres vote NON
This is serious for Michelin. Surely there are a few million that feels like me.
I need new tyres this week ... they WILL NOT be Michelin ... 99% sure they will be Bridgetone ok:
