By Phil Huff
May 6 2005

BAR Honda have finally conceded defeat in the battle against the FIA, accepting that they will have to sit out of the Spanish and Monaco Grands Prix as punishment for running an illegal car at San Marino. In a statement, BAR said that they had "looked at all practical ways of immediately challenging the decision", but had decided that nothing could be done to enable the team to race in this weekends Spanish Grand Prix.

The team are also backing down from challenging the Monaco race ban, stating that arguing the case in court "would cause a level of disruption and damage to the sport which would not serve the best interests of everyone involved."

The FIA have historically come down very hard on any team taking action outside of its own independent process, most recently threatening to cancel the Australian Grand Prix after Minardi won an injunction allowing them to enter a 2004 specification car in the season opening race. Given the threat, Minardi backed down and ran a legal 2005 spec car.

BAR Honda still maintain their innocence, however, saying that the "International Court of Appeal in its own judgement was unable to prove that the team acted in bad faith. BAR Honda therefore remains unclear as to the basis for such a severe penalty."