Michelin offers USGP soother.

Whilst far from accepting full responsibility for what happened at Indianapolis Motor Speedway two weeks ago, Michelin has moved to soothe the bad feeling left over from the United States Grand prix by offering to contribute towards a refund for fans left without a meaningful grand prix to watch.

Insisting that its offer was nothing more than a sincere gesture to the American spectators robbed of what could have been 'an exciting race' because its tyres were unsuitable for the testing final corner at the Brickyard, Michelin has offered both a cash contribution towards refunding disgruntled fans and said that it is willing to buy as many as 20,000 tickets for next year's event - should Indianapolis Motor Speedway decide to continue its F1 experiment - to be distributed to fans disappointed by the 2005 fiasco.

"One week after the Indianapolis Grand Prix, Michelin wishes to make a sincere gesture of goodwill towards the people present at the GP, a group whose passion for F1 is encouraging in the development of this sport in the United States," an official statement announcing the offers read, "Therefore, on our own initiative and in total solidarity with our partners, we have taken two decisions:

"Firstly, Michelin has decided to contribute to the costs incurred by the spectators present at the circuit on Sunday 19 June 2005 by offering to refund their tickets. This is an important decision, since Michelin is not at all legally bound to do this. Michelin deeply regrets that the public was deprived of an exciting race and therefore wishes
to be the first, among the different groups involved in the Indianapolis race, to make a strong gesture towards the spectators.

"Secondly, Michelin also offers to buy 20,000 tickets for the 2006 US Grand Prix, to be given to spectators who were present at the Indianapolis race in 2005. We are offering this to promote further Formula One interest in the United States."

The timing of the announcement coincides with the appearance of Michelin's seven teams in front of the FIA's World Motor Sport Council, to answer charges of bringing the sport into disrepute by pulling out of the USGP at the end of the formation lap. The race proceeded with just six cars, amid a torrent of abuse and missiles. Michelin insists that the decision to offer a contribution towards refunds was taken arbitrarily, and therefore not prompted by comments from FIA president Max Mosley, who suggested that such a gesture should be made.