I actually started to write an editorial about the 2005 U.S. Grand Prix on Sunday evening, but it was just too difficult to write through the anger. So after a "cooling off" period of a few days, I have this to offer. I'm still angry, but I also have a lot more ammo in the way of information (links) than I had Sunday night. So perhaps that will save me from coming across as quite the raving lunatic.

The 2005 USGP was an abomination of a once proud sport. Michelin's failure to provide adequate tyres to 7 of the 10 teams was most certainly the root cause of the weekend's problems but the FIA's stunning lack of crisis management skills is ultimately what led to the FARCE that transpired on Sunday. Their lack of crisis management skills can quite possibly only be topped by their lack of PR skills. Despite the wording in their press release, a significant number of other accounts point to a management team that was unwilling and unyielding to truly provide an agreeable compromise, and most importantly a RACE. The "solutions" proposed by the FIA were an absolute laugh out loud JOKE and clearly were never intended to be taken seriously. Ferrari doesn't get off lightly in this matter, either. Of 10 teams, they were the lone dissenter in the only viable solution that could have resulted in some actual RACING. Perhaps the FIA would have changed their tune if their favorite team was onboard with the proposed solution. And I also found it a little amusing how when cornered, (Ferrari Boss) Jean Todt seems to contradict himself with his own remarks. (What the hell was that crap?!) The solution proposed to them would have likely resulted in Ferrari still scoring more points than anybody else, and they wouldn't have had to put on such a sorrowful act at the end of the race, provided Schumi didn't take out himself and teammate Barrichello first (he almost did just that in a field of only 6 cars!).

By the way, if you're still reading this rant and have no idea what I'm talking about, here are a few more links for some background:

http://autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=102613

id=2091112" target="_blank">http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/story?series=f1&id=2091112

An Insider Account of What Transpired at Indy

FIA Denies Stoddart's Claims (wow, they've really got the PR engine cranked up now)

hubName=auto_racing" target="_blank">Minardi Boss Calls for Mosely's Resignation

Williams: 'Mosley refused to compromise'

Where was Bernie E. during all of this? Seemingly everywhere and nowhere. He did offer up this gem of a quote when asked about Danica Patrick, however: "You know, I've got one of those wonderful ideas, that women should be dressed in white like all of the other domestic appliances." No word on whether surgeons successfully extracted his foot from his mouth. UPDATE: As if it weren't enough to audibly construct such a sentence in front of the world's media, apparently id=2092194" target="_blank">he decided to call Danica Patrick and tell her the same thing on the phone. Well, maybe there is an upside - you may find comfort in the fact that Bernie is furious too.

I don't know about you, but here at the TOV we're really SICK AND TIRED of the political BS that's ruined F1 Racing. When we flip on the television on Sunday morning, or afternoon, we just want to see REAL RACING. The FIA seems to operate on a different agenda these days, so to commemorate their most recent (and absolutely brilliant achievement), the Temple of VTEC has designed another set of 100% cotton T-Shirts. This will be a limited run and we're ordering up our first batch today, so if you're interested in owning a piece of history, supporting the alternative GPWC series and expressing your displeasure with the way the FIA left a steaming pile on the infield of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the details for ordering your very own shirt are here. The cost is $18 (including shipping in the U.S.) per shirt for sizes S thru XL. For XXL the cost is $20 (including shipping in the U.S.).

Last edited by Tuan on June 22, 2005 21:59