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Tiremaker Michelin must face FIA
LONDON, England -- Michelin have been ordered to appear before a hearing of Formula One's ruling body to explain their part in the deeply damaging U.S. Grand Prix tire fiasco. The hearing, which also involves the Indianapolis non-starters, will take place in Paris on June 29, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) said. Seven of the 10 teams, including title-leaders Renault and McLaren, pulled out before the start in the U.S. because of safety concerns about Michelin tires. "Formula One is a sporting contest. It must operate to clear rules," the FIA said in a separate statement on Monday. "These cannot be negotiated each time a competitor brings the wrong equipment to a race." The teams had asked for a temporary chicane to be installed before the final banked turn to reduce speeds, a request rejected by the FIA. The FIA said that rather than boycott the race, which went ahead with just six cars, the Michelin teams should have agreed to run at reduced speeds. "The rules would have been kept, they would have earned championship points and the fans would have had a race," it said. "As it is, by refusing to run unless the FIA broke the rules and handicapped the Bridgestone runners, they have damaged themselves and the sport." French tiremaker Michelin defended its decision to advise teams to pull out for safety reasons. "We are absolutely not embarrassed about our decision, although we do have regrets for the fans of Formula One and for the racing drivers of course," Frederic Henry-Biabaud, Michelin's deputy director of competition, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Monday. "We feel it is a reasonable decision and we were professional to bear in mind primarily the safety of the drivers," Henry-Biabaud said. "We had no other choice." Safety-mindedHe called the United States a safety-minded country and said there would have been an uproar in the event of an accident. "Imagine what would have happened in the United States if there was an accident ....what would have been the reaction if we'd allowed the drivers to race and something bad happened?" he said. The tiremaker acted after two Michelins failed in Friday practice sessions -- one causing a wreck that prevented Ralf Schumacher from competing. Michelin provides seven of the 10 F1 teams with tires and nnly six cars -- using Bridgestone tires -- started the race after 14 drivers left the track after the warmup lap. Ferrari's Michael Schumacher won, climbing from his car to a chorus of boos. Henry-Biabaud said Michelin's involvement in F1 would continue, and dismissed speculation only one tiremaker would be allowed to supply cars from now on. "We will continue to have a great Formula One. It is a competition between drivers, car manufacturers and also tire manufacturers," he said. "Competition at the highest level includes competition between tire makers. I don't see why it would change." Henry-Biabaud said the problems with the tires were largely due to the design of the Indianapolis track, which led to doubts over safety. "You arrive at a Grand Prix and you have tires you think are designed to 100 percent quality and matching the race conditions," he said. "But as soon as you have a fraction of a doubt, even a small one, you cannot take any other decision." "At Indianapolis, the tire coating suffers," he added. "The circuit is very traditional but the straight line before the banking delivers massive pressure on the car and the tires. For the car to do the whole race we have to be sure the tires can last." Henry-Biabaud said the sport's governing body, the FIA, should have built a temporary chicane before the banked corner to reduce speeds and lessen pressure on the tires. "We are disappointed a chicane was not put in as we would have had a very good race," he said. "They are the sole judges, that is their decision and we respect that. But people must also respect our decision." 
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