Michelin Could be Sanctioned by FIA

The FIA was unimpressed with the Michelin situation this weekend and believes the company's failure to bring a safe back-up tyre to the event is in breach of the sport's regulations. It feels that the situation is more an issue of tyre 'performance' than actual safety.

In a letter from FIA race director Charlie Whiting to Michelin, he said the company was entirely to blame for not bring a slower but completely safe tyre as a back-up solution for the race - and that such action could be a breach of Article 151C of the International Sporting Code.

The regulation states that it is an offence to conduct: "Any fraudulent conduct or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition or to the interests of motor sport generally."

In the letter, Whiting said: "We are very surprised that this difficulty has arisen. As you know, each team is allowed to bring two different types of tyre to an event so as to ensure that a back-up (usually of lower performance) is available should problems occur.

"It is hard to understand why you have not supplied your teams with such a tyre given your years of experience at Indianapolis.

"That the teams you supply are not in possession of such a tyre will also be a matter for the FIA to consider in due course under Article 151c of the International Sporting Code."

Each team is allowed to bring two different types of tyre to a grand prix weekend, with one option often being much softer and not as durable.

It is possible that Michelin could be called up by the FIA to explain why they did not bring a suitable tyre to the race weekend, especially considering rivals Bridgestone have had no problems at all.

Punishments for a breach of Article 151C include fines, suspensions and exclusion from the World Championship.