Michelin teams summoned to appear before the FIA

By Phil Huff
June 21 2005

In a very short statement released moments ago, the FIA have announced that they will be calling all seven Michelin team to appear before the World Motor Sport Council.

The statement says:

Further to events at the 2005 United States Grand Prix, representatives of the seven Michelin teams have been summoned to a hearing of the FIA World Motor Sport Council to be held in Paris on Wednesday, June 29, 2005.

The FIA have made it increasingly clear that they place the blame for Sunday's fiasco at Indianapolis firmly on the shoulders of Michelin and the teams that they provide tyres for.

Early the governing body said "by refusing to run unless the FIA broke the rules and handicapped the Bridgestone runners, they have damaged themselves and the sport."

The teams will have to explain their actions to the Council, and face the prospect of penalties if their case is not convincing.

With BAR Honda racing under a suspended 6 month ban, there is a risk that the team could be missing from the remainder of the season.