Mika penalized for Pit-Lane Violation

[Mania]

Itv is reporting the following...


It's been reported that Mika Hakkinen has been demoted to fourth for the start of the United States Grand Prix for breaking pit lane exit rules.






I saw the warm up on speedvision and he did violate the rules. Everyone was waiting for the lights to go green and Mika zoomed past..but I dont think the demotion is fair. A fine would have done the trick..

Anyway, can anyone confirm this news from a source other than the not-so-reliable ITV.

[paulzinho]

This is what autosport.com says:

http://www.autosport.com/newsitem.cfm?id=16573&series=5

Sounds a bit harsh.

[Don K]

Originally posted by paulzinho
This is what autosport.com says:

http://www.autosport.com/newsitem.cfm?id=16573&series=5

Sounds a bit harsh.

So the session was stopped because of a dangerous situation, and one driver went back on track before the lights were green.
I would say a penalty should be given in such a case.

He was put back only two positions; that doesn't look very harsh to me.
And he has been reminded that he has the right to appeal. So if he can convince the stewards that he knew the stewards had declared the situation to be save again, he might be able to get away with a financial penalty.

I don't think he should go without a punishment just because he is a 2 time WDC, or just because he may be retiring (?), or just because he's a nice guy...

[paulzinho]

Yeah but a fine is enough.

Anyway time to watch the race now.

[f1grandprixshop]

[Valve Bounce]

Making up the penalties on the run is ridiculous, and I am glad to see that MSch saw the injustice of this demotion and took the opportunity to say so at the post race interview. I think Mika should have been given a one race penalty, suspended for 3 races. That would have been the appropriate action, not buggering up the grid with an arbitrary penalty conjured up on the spur of the moment. However, we should look on the brighter side because this obviously fired MIka up, judging by the way he drove.
By the way, does anyone know why Mika did not spray the champagne on the podium?

[OVERSTEER]

There was an argument put forward by Jim "I don't know anything about F1" Rosenthal that he couldn't see the red light because of the waiting cars but what would you think the cars were waiting at the end of the pitlane for? maybe they were just risking melting their engines for fun I suppose!

[Valve Bounce]

Originally posted by OVERSTEER
There was an argument put forward by Jim "I don't know anything about F1" Rosenthal that he couldn't see the red light because of the waiting cars but what would you think the cars were waiting at the end of the pitlane for? maybe they were just risking melting their engines for fun I suppose!

They were all looking for unexpired parking metres.

[paulzinho]

[Ralf's Girl]

Originally posted by OVERSTEER
There was an argument put forward by Jim "I don't know anything about F1" Rosenthal that he couldn't see the red light because of the waiting cars but what would you think the cars were waiting at the end of the pitlane for?

On the contrary, Mika actually said that himself - he said that the cars parked in front made it difficult to see the light. Which must make him completely stupid because I don't think that there were five other drivers sitting at the end of the pitlane for the good of their health.

[Don K]

Originally posted by OVERSTEER
what would you think the cars were waiting at the end of the pitlane for?

Mika claimed he thought they were testing their launch control.