FIA Wants BAR Excluded + Million Euro Fine

[Soichiro]

Formula One's ruling body has asked the Court of Appeal in Paris to throw
the BAR team out of this year's Formula One Championship.

The FIA, in their evidence dossier, also recommended a penalty of at least
one million Euro.

"The FIA asks the Court to exclude the Lucky Strike BAR Honda team from
the 2005 Formula One World Championship and to fine the team at least one
million Euros," said the FIA.

Here's an overview of what happened after the last race at Imola:

The car may have been underweight after the last race. It measured 6 kilos
light when drained of fuel, but there are lots of nuances:

- it's generally been accepted that the car, empty of fuel, cannot be below
the minimum weight. but the rules don't say *exactly* that and BAR made the
point that they can run a lighter car *as long as the weight of the fuel in
the car* brings it up to minimum. they have the telemetry to prove how much
fuel (weight) was in the car each lap. this is one point.

- they kind of got caught with a 'secret' fuel tank. they say no, it's just
a collector, but this is another point of contention.

- if Buttons car was underweight, but not Satos (or if only Button had the
secret tank) this is another point.

- 'movable ballast' is specifically banned. all ballast must be
secured. what is fuel? secured within a rubber tank? another point.

The FIA may have been tipped off by a disgruntled former team employee. They have a standing 1 million dollar offer for info like this but no one has ever spoken up before.

I think it will all be over by 9am Eastern time (2pm in Paris?) but if BAR are
thrown out, I'm sure that will only start the lawsuits between sponsors,
Honda, etc.

And you thought the action took place on the track!!!

 

[Osiris_x11]

grassy knoll...

hmmm... As the ol' adage goes, "one's success is measured by the number of enemies they make along the way." Maybe it was a tactical 'tip' by an insider, right as BAR Honda was getting into the mix of the F1 season.

I've read in numerous press clippings that the Honda powerplant was going to be a force to be reckoned w/ this year, so much potential in the Honda motor that Red Bull Racing has plans to use the Hond sourced motor in the forthcoming F1 season & beyond. Perhaps people out there got scurrred???

{As you can tell, I'm just thinking of anything possible... ie. Grassy Knolls, etc.}

 

[Russ]

More here.

 

[Ponyboy]

I don't see how the FIA has a case if

*they've known of the collector tank since Mayalasia.
*they've weighed every car except the BAR Honda differently.
*there is no concrete description for how car should be properly drained.

If the BAR Honda was legal the previous race why wouldn't it be illegal with the same system now?

Seems fishy to me.

 

[Ponyboy]

And not only the above, but the FIA wants BAR excluded? They didn't do that to Ferrari when everybody knew Ferrari were running traction control. Me thinks Bernie and Max are working overtime to force manufacturers into the GPWC.

 

[NSX-Racer]

I think it will all be over by 9am Eastern time (2pm in Paris?) but if BAR are
thrown out, I'm sure that will only start the lawsuits between sponsors,
Honda, etc.

Just to add the info: The appeal court's decision is expected for tomorrow (May, 5th) evening middle european summer time - no exact time scheduled.