French Grand Prix
Reminder: this weekend’s race schedule / TV schedule.
French Grand Prix weekend
This weekend’s schedule:
| Circuit (local) time | EDT (GMT -4hrs) | TV coverage | |
| Friday Practice 1 | 1100-1200 | 0500-0600 | x |
| Friday Practice 2 | 1400-1500 | 0800-0900 | Live on Speed |
| Saturday Practice 1 | 0900-0945 | 0300-0345 | x |
| Saturday Practice 2 | 1015-1100 | 0415-0500 | x |
| Saturday Qualifying | 1300-1400 | 0700-0800 | Live on TSN & Speed |
| Race | 1400-1600 | 0800-1000 | Live on TSN & Speed (pre-race @ 0730) |
[sources: official F1 site; TSN; SpeedTV]
The seven Michelin teams must wait until September to find out what punishment they will receive after they were found guilty on Wednesday of two charges relating to their failure to race in the US Grand Prix.
Following a meeting of team representatives and the World Motor Sport Council in Paris, FIA President Max Mosley revealed that the teams were guilty of failing to ensure they had suitable tyres and of wrongfully refusing to start the race.
They were cleared of three other charges of refusing to race subject to a speed limit, of combining to make a demonstration damaging to the sport’s image by stopping after the formation lap and of not informing the race stewards of their plans to pull out.
However, the Council decided to delay a decision on what punishment the teams will receive until an extraordinary meeting on September 14, during which time Mosley said they would be considering the steps taken to compensate fans who attended the US race and steps taken by Michelin to ensure nothing similar happens again.
Thanks to
There was no reference to whether the hearing panel had assessed whether Mosley was right to prevent a plan to race following the insertion of a chicane.
Mosley dismissed fears that BAR were vulnerable to a ban after being handed a suspended suspension earlier this season.
Michelin offers refund / 2006 tickets for US GP spectators
From the Michelin website (via this post in
2005 United States Formula 1 Grand Prix, Indianapolis
Straight talk and a sincere gesture for the American spectators:
It could have been an exciting race
One week after the Indianapolis Grand Prix, Michelin wishes to make a sincere gesture of goodwill towards the people present at the GP, a group whose passion for F1 is encouraging in the development of this sport in the United States.
Therefore, on our own initiative and in total solidarity with our partners, we have taken two decisions:
1. Michelin has decided to contribute to the costs incurred by the spectators present at the circuit on Sunday June 19th 2005 by offering to refund their tickets. This is an important decision, since Michelin is not at all legally bound to do this.
Michelin deeply regrets that the public was deprived of an exciting race and therefore wishes to be the first, among the different groups involved in the Indianapolis race, to make a strong gesture towards the spectators.
2. Michelin also offers to buy 20,000 tickets for the 2006 U.S. Grand Prix to be given to spectators who were present at the Indianapolis race in 2005. We are offering this to promote further Formula 1 interest in the United States.
We would also like to take this opportunity to underline the fact that it is unacceptable that our partner teams have been accused by the FIA of having boycotted the Indianapolis Grand Prix. The reality is that together, Michelin and its partners have done everything possible to assure that the race could take place in total safety.
We are extremely disappointed that the proposals made with all our teams were not accepted. These proposals, including a chicane, were technically viable and totally met all safety requirements. On Sunday morning, June 19, the sporting authority had all the means necessary to preserve the interest of the race.
And yet, the sporting authority rejected the proposed solutions. Why? In our view this is totally incomprehensible and reflects a lack of respect for the spectators.
It is the spirit of respect for the spectators that brought us, with our partners, to propose solutions to allow the race to take place in total safety. It is this same spirit that leads us today to make this gesture.
I doubt that the FIA will accept any blame whatsoever for the fiasco … and aren’t the Michelin-shod teams due in front of the FIA in the next few days to hear what penalty they’ll be given for putting safety first disobeying Max & Bernie?
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