US Grand Prix Should Go Ahead, Says Mosley

Formula One cannot "surrender to terrorism" and should go ahead with the U.S. Grand Prix this month, the head of the sport's ruling body has said.

"We should never make concessions or surrender to terrorism," said International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Max Mosley in a written reply to questions about Indianapolis. The reply, to a question whether it was appropriate for the race to be held after terror attacks on America, was dated September 13 but was issued by the FIA on Saturday at the Italian Grand Prix.

However, others have since raised doubts about whether or not the race at Indianapolis on September 30 can proceed. Ralf Schumacher said on Thursday that it was a "bad joke" to hold the race while McLaren team boss Ron Dennis pondered the logistical problems on Friday. Mosley was adamant the race should be held.

"No one in motor sport has suggested cancelling the events," he said. "Anyone who can help the victims of the American disaster should do so. Likewise anyone who can help apprehend the perpetrators.

"The duty of the rest of us is to carry on as normal and to make no concessions to terrorism."

The Briton said he was not worried about safety at an event which attracted 250,000 spectators last year.

"The American authorities will undoubtedly have taken appropriate measures to protect the public at all large gatherings," he said.

Reaction

Ralf Schumacher has provided the main public voice of opposition.

"It's a bad joke intending to race in the United States," he told a German radio reporter. "I don't think it's safe and I will for sure not take my family and friends. With (Formula One supremo) Bernie Ecclestone recommending us to race there, I will be anxious to see if he turns up," added the Williams driver.

His teammate, Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, won last year's Indy 500 and disagreed.

"It should go ahead. I believe it," Montoya told reporters on Thursday. "What happened there is crazy, absolutely mental but I think the worse thing they could do is to try to stop the country."

Eddie Irvine, the Northern Irishman whose Jaguar team is owned by U.S. car giant Ford, agreed with Montoya's line of thought.

"I just don't think you should change your lifestyle because of a few idiots," he said. "It's like in Northern Ireland, we've had this for 30 years. These people want to cause as much havoc as possible, don't give in to them. That's the answer."

Dennis openly raised doubts on Friday that the political situation might also make the trip to the United States impossible. He said Formula One had to be supportive of the U.S. Grand Prix because any cancellation would lead to significant losses for the organisers.

But any U.S. response against those held responsible for the attacks could "lessen the ability practically and morally for us to have a race.

"If action is taken that could enhance the difficulty of movement around the world...it may be practically impossible to hold that event," he said. "Under normal circumstances, freight would be leaving towards the end of next week. It's not the movement of people that constitutes the deadline, it's more likely the movement of the freight."