New Indy saga brewing says Michelin insider
Germany's 'Bild' newspaper quoted what it described as a 'Michelin man' as worrying that the combination of new rules and quicker cornering speeds in 2006 might re-kindle the horror of last season, when fourteen cars were pulled from the grid.
The Michelin insider said: ''Even with the V8 engines the cars are even faster, and now we have even softer tire compounds.
''The whole of formula one should be concerned.''
More official Michelin sources, however, insist that the tire for this weekend is safe. ''We're sure now, 100 per cent,'' said F1 director Nick Shorrock, ''the tires correspond to the specification we need for this race in 2006.''
But world champion Fernando Alonso added that, with such demanding F1 partners as Renault, McLaren and BMW, the French tire supplier can't afford to be overly conservative.
''The teams will not allow to Michelin to be conservative,'' said the Spaniard.