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Jean Todt talks about that Grand Prix

NEWS STORY
20/06/2005

Following the biggest farce in the history of F1, Ferrari team boss, Jean Todt, sat down to answer some questions.

In other circumstances a Ferrari 1-2 would have been something to celebrate, especially as, other than McLaren in 2000, Ferrari is the only team to win the United States Grand Prix since it arrived at Indianapolis in 2000.

However, this wasn't a day for celebrating, and even Todt looked weary, as the shock of what had just happened - F1 virtually committed suicide in the so-called home of motor racing.

First off, Todt was asked if what had just happened - a six car race - was the best solution.

He sighs: "OK, it's a race and you decide to compete in a race and then you take part in the race which is what we did.

"Then if some (other competitors ) for some reason decide not to do it, I can feel sorry about that, mainly sorry for all the supporters who were here, for the American supporters, for the TV viewers but it was not our decision. Don't ask me to comment on that, I would far prefer to have had everybody at the start."

Asked whether the credibility of Formula One is now in jeopardy, he sighs again: "Sure," he replies, "that is true, that is true. It has been a hard hit for Formula One today.

Some are pointing the finger of blame at Ferrari, claiming that the Italian team failed to agree a compromise, the installation of a chicane at Turn 13.

"Number one, it's an FIA decision," he hits back. "Number two, if something happened, on the other side, if, for example, we don't have enough grip for qualifying and we ask for three laps because we have good grip after the third lap, or if we ask for a chicane because we feel it would be safer for our tyres, I think everybody would laugh at us.

"So you just have to be prepared to react to a situation. You have two sets of tyres which you chose from, one normally is soft, the other one is hard and then you make your choice. I feel sorry for those who could not compete, but I feel more sorry, again, for the supporters."

The other nine teams are said to have agreed that a chicane would be a solution, however, it's said that Ferrari was against this.

"That's not true," he snaps back. "It's not true, we were never involved with that. Never involved. You said 'your team did not agree'. It's not true. We were never asked about that. Whether we would have agreed or not is another question, and I tell you right now, to be sincere, we would not have agreed, but we were never asked about that.

"If we knew beforehand that there would be a chicane, we would have come prepared for a chicane," he continues. "We would come with different tyres, we would have a different set-up on the car, we would have different gear ratios. Honestly, why should we compromise. We try to do a good job with Bridgestone, and we did not do a very good job with Bridgestone since the beginning of the year. We arrive, we are in a situation where we see from Friday that we are competitive, we don't have any problem with tyres so for us it's an opportunity."

The other nine teams said they would have competed for no points if a chicane had been installed. Would Ferrari have competed for no points?

"No," he replies, "No way. We would not have competed if there were no points.

"You ask if we would have competed for no points; I say no," he continues. "If this race would have been a race without points, which it cannot be, it would have been out of the FIA standard, we would not have started."

It's pointed out that the Michelin teams were willing to compete for no points and that they were 'happy' for the other three teams to take the points.

"Then it's a joke," he replies. "It's a joke."

It's pointed out that the sight of six cars 'racing' was also a joke.

"Go and speak with the people who made the joke," says the Frenchman. "Again, we should not be accused of doing our job. If somebody didn't do their job, and if you want to accuse somebody, which is your right, but I have nothing to say about that.

Asked if he had spoken to Max (Mosley) over the weekend, he replies: "Yes, but I was not the only one, I think everybody spoke with him.

"Max has a very strong personality," he continued, "and he knows… He has these people with whom he discusses things, he has the director of the race, he has the clerk of the course, he has the stewards. To the question did I speak with him, yes I spoke with him, but that's it."

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