Audi defends race pull-out decision

All the Audi drivers that were still in the race were instructed to pull into the pits to retire with 10 laps remaining, as their bosses believed that the battles on track with some Mercedes drivers had been too tough.

The decision was greeted with disgust by the fans at the circuit, but Ullrich believes that Audi made the right call.

"Motorsport has to be fair, and I don't think it was in this case," he said. "I think we made the right decision.

"Things happened that gave me the feeling that the harshness of the race was in a way we don't see motorsport.

"After two discussions with deciding people, I took the decision to say that this is not the way we want to race."

One of the men that Ullrich discussed the issue with was Rupert Stadler, chairman of the board for Audi AG.

The race was marred by several incidents between different drivers. The first was between Mika Hakkinen and Martin Tomczyk, who clashed at the first corner as the Finn dived down the inside at Turn 1 in an attempt to take the lead.

Hakkinen was out on the spot, while Tomczyk continued until much later in the race before retiring.

Championship leader Mattias Ekstrom retired from the race after contact with Daniel la Rosa, who was rejoining the track after he had taken to the grass while running on the outside of the Swede coming out of Turn 1.

Bruno Spengler then had separate incidents with Lucas Luhr and later Mike Rockenfeller, and it was shortly after the Canadian moved ahead of Rockenfeller that Audi withdrew their cars.

"A decision like this is not easily taken," Ullrich added. "This cost us some points that could be important for the championship."