22 Jul 2005
Michelin teams cleared over Indianapolis
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The FIA World Motor Sport Council has voted overwhelmingly to accept the recommendation of the FIA Senate regarding events at the 2005 United States Grand Prix and cancel the guilty verdicts against the seven Michelin teams.
Having examined the new evidence previously submitted to the Senate, the Council agreed that the teams were contractually bound to follow the instructions of their tyre supplier at Indianapolis, and hence had no choice but to withdraw from the race.
The teams had been found guilty of failing to have appropriate tyres for the United States Grand Prix and of wrongfully refusing to allow their cars to take the start.
Michelin has accepted responsibility for the events and is refunding all race day tickets, as well as providing fans with 20,000 free tickets for next year’s event. They instructed their teams not to race after deciding they could not guarantee the safety of their tyres through the high-speed banking of Turn 13.
As a result the United States Grand Prix was run with just the six Bridgestone cars, with victory going to Ferrari's Michael Schumacher.
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