By Karl King
June 29 2005

Michelin yesterday announced that it would refund all spectators at the Indianapolis farce and supply them with free tickets to the 2006 United States GP, in a surprise last-ditch by Michelin to save the French tyre company and it's 7 teams from charges by the FIA.

In a meeting today, the sport's governing body announced that the seven Michelin-shod teams are guilty on 2 counts of bringing Formula One into disrepute.

Firstly, the teams were guilty of failing to ensure that they were in possession of suitable tyres for the 2005 United States GP.

The were also found guilty of wrongfully refusing to allow their cars to start the race, having regard to their right to use the pit lane on each lap.

The teams were, however cleared on the 3 other charges they faced. This means that all teams have been found not guilty of refusing to race subject to a speed restriction, having regard to the absence of any detailed plan for this; not guilty of combining to make a demonstration for the reason that they had hoped to race until the last minute, and also not guilty of failing to inform the Stewards of their intention not to start (Article 131) for the same reason.

The teams will have until before the 2005 Belgian Grand Prix to find out the charges the face, in a move taken by the FIA to try and build up the reputation of the sport, once again. There will be a meeting on the 14 September pre-Beligium where the World Motor Sport Council where the organisation will consider what steps have been taken by the seven Michelin teams and/or Michelin to compensate the Formula One fans and repair the damage to the reputation of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and to the image of Formula One, and also what steps the tyre company have taken to ensure such an event does not occur once more.

It's all about image, isn't it? When is someone going to charge the FIA - they're the ones doing the damage!