Formula One: Us Grand Prix Ends in Farce

The future of formula one in the North America was in serious jeopardy last night according to its commercial controller, Bernie Ecclestone, after only six cars took the start of a farcical United States grand prix.

All 14 Michelin-shod competitors retired their cars at the end of the parade lap on safety grounds after a spate of Michelin tyre failures in practice, heightening tension between them and the FIA president Max Mosley, who refused to intervene to defuse the sport's problems over the race weekend.

"I am furious because of the stupidity of all this," said Ecclestone. "The good old days when I could do the right thing are over. I was trying a million things. I thought once I got them on the starting grid I was halfway there.

"Let's be honest, if you were a promoter like Tony George you would not want to risk this happening again. It was down to the unwillingness of the teams and other people to compromise. We'd just started to build a great image for formula one in America amongst the TV and fans, and that is all ruined."

As Ferrari's Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello toured to an easy 1-2 finish, irate fans tossed beer cans on to the track, one of which struck Barrichello's car.

Michelin's failure to supply its teams with safe and durable tyres could now force the French tyre company's withdrawal from the sport.

Mosley commented: "It seems that Michelin failed to bring a back-up tyre as usual with them to Indianapolis. As a result they had a performance problem and asked for the circuit to be changed to overcome their difficulty.

"The FIA offered them options which would have allowed them to compete safely within the limitations of their tyres. For some reason they chose not to accept these options. As a result formula one and motorsport fans throughout the world are the losers. The FIA is now awaiting a report from its observer in Indianapolis before deciding on the next step."