Grapevine: Monza Fans Told to Put a Lid on Celebrations

Formula One fans attending Sunday's Italian Grand Prix have been urged by organisers to keep celebrations to a minimum in the aftermath of the tragedy in the United States.

Pre-race ceremonial events, including a fly-past by the Italian Tricolour Arrows display team, have been called off. The Italian Automobile Club (ACI), the race organisers, also issued a statement urging fans to tone down their behaviour.

It asked them "to behave seriously, in keeping with the gravity of the situation and in collective sympathy with the pain of American citizens".

The Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper said there would be no podium celebrations after the race. World champions Ferrari, who won their third Constructors' Championship last month along with Michael Schumacher's fourth title, have scrapped a planned dinner for the media on Saturday night.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said on Wednesday that the weekend, the last European race of the season, would no longer be a celebration of Ferrari's achievements but just another Grand Prix. Williams boss Frank Williams said it was right for the race to go ahead rather than be called off.

"You have to show that life goes on," he was quoted as saying in the Gazzetta dello Sport. "I have spoken about it with (Formula One supremo) Bernie Ecclestone and he also agrees."

The ruling International Automobile Federation (FIA) said on Wednesday that they had no plans to cancel current Grands Prix. But doubts still surrounded the U.S. Grand Prix scheduled for Indianapolis at the end of the month, with Formula One insiders speculating that it could yet be switched to another venue.

The cars, fuel, tyres and other equipment must all be air-freighted into America the week before the race - an impossibility at the moment, with U.S. airspace closed to all planes. However, the U.S. Grand Prix is also strategically important for Formula One, with last year's race at Indianapolis the first in America since 1991.

A deal for live television coverage of the race by ABC's sports network was announced this week.