Michelin Teams Summoned by FIA

The controversy over the United States Grand Prix tyre fiasco took a fresh twist on Monday when the sport's governing body announced it was summoning the teams that pulled out of the event to explain their actions

Jun 20, 2005, 3:14 PM

The seven teams, who refused to take part after the FIA declined requests to install a chicane prior to the final corner of the track, will face a hearing of the FIA's World Motor Sport Council in Paris on June 29.

Earlier on Monday, the FIA had made it clear that the blame for the fiasco at Indianapolis lay firmly at the door of the teams and their tyre partner Michelin.

A statement had said: "Rather than boycott the race the Michelin teams should have agreed to run at reduced speed in turn 13. The rules would have been kept, they would have earned Championship points and the fans would have had a race.

"As it is, by refusing to run unless the FIA broke the rules and handicapped the Bridgestone runners, they have damaged themselves and the sport."

The FIA's angry stance had made it increasingly likely that Michelin would be summoned by the governing body.