2005 United States Grand Prix*

The spectacle that was. The race that wasn't. I had started drafting some thoughts on how they could improve the promotion of the USGP but that seems a moot point at the moment. A bad day all around for everyone involved.

Having spent that last three days and a few dollars at the circuit it is fair to say that this is a new low in Formula 1. A couple of points and observations:

• I knew on Friday night that Michelin was very worried about the safety of their tires running on the oval section of the circuit.
• I knew on Saturday night that there was a serious possibility of the Michelin shod teams not running if certain changes were not made.
• I knew on Sunday morning before heading the the circuit that the situation was not much better.
• I knew 50 minutes before the scheduled race start that the Michelin teams were threatening not to run if a chicane was not put into turn 13.
• I knew 5 minutes before the scheduled race start that the Michelin teams would do the formation lap and just pull into the pits.
• None of the thousands of people sitting in turn 1 with me had a clue what was going on.
• Many fans began to leave the Indianapolis Motor Speedway after the first few laps of the race.
• Most of the 100,000+ people who showed up on Sunday left very dejected.

Follow the finger pointing here:

Letter from Representatives of Michelin to Charlie Whiting, the FIA Formula One Race Director

Letter from Charlie Whiting, the FIA Formula One Race Director, in reply to above letter from Representatives of Michelin

Follow-up letters between Representatives of Michelin and Charlie Whiting, the FIA Formula One Race Director

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway issued the following statement.