Actually it makes more sense than it sounds. The rulebook states that the fuel
IN THE CAR can't be more than 10 degrees colder than ambient, but the only way
the FIA has to measure temperature is the fuel in the filler. This fuel
undoubtably is warmed somewhat when it's pumped and mixes with the warmer fuel
in the car.
Secondly, the rulebook does not say which ambient temperature measurement is
official. It is assumed that the temperature provided by the FIA in their
network would be official ambient, but the contract meteorologists that most
teams use were reporting an ambient temperature a few degrees colder than the
FIA temperature. The rulebook is not specific on this issue.
What we're seeing here is the difficulty of writing rules that are not subject
to interpretation, and the reason why rulebooks get so big and so arcane.
Since the World Championship was at stake, I think the FIA and the court did a
good job in not deciding the results in the courtroom but rather on the track.
I would have been extremely unhappy to see the Iceman stripped of his title by
a ruling on an inconsequential error by teams not in competition for the
title.
-----Original Message-----
From: fot-bounces+billb=bnj.com@autox.team.net on behalf of William G
Rosenbach
Sent: Mon 11/19/2007 6:14 AM
To: fot@autox.team.net
Subject: [Fot] F-1 Thermometergate
Ok, I will never again laugh at the SCCA for their ridiculous protests;
THE FIA can't even figure out how to read a thermometer.
The full FIA statement:
"The FIA International Court of Appeal met in London on Thursday,
November 15, 2007, to examine an appeal lodged by the Motor Sports
Association (MSA) on behalf of its licence-holder Vodafone McLaren
Mercedes against the decision (document 41) of the Panel of the Stewards
of the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix dated 21 October 2007 and counting
towards the 2007 FIA Formula One World Championship.
"Following a report from the Technical Delegate indicating that the
temperature of fuel pumped into the cars N09 - Nick Heidfeld, N010 -
Robert Kubica, N016 - Nico Rosberg and N017 - Kazuki Nakajima, was more
than 10 degrees centigrade below ambient temperature, the Stewards of the
Meeting met to consider whether a penalty should be imposed. Having heard
the evidence they decided not to impose a penalty as they had sufficient
doubt as to both the temperature of the fuel on board the car and to the
true ambient temperature.
"Having heard the explanations of both parties and having examined the
various documents and other evidence, the Court decided that the appeal
lodged by Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is inadmissible.
"The International Court of Appeal was presided over by Mr Jan STOVICEK
(Czech Republic), elected President, and composed of Mr John CASSIDY
(United States), Mr Vassilis KOUSSIS (Greece) and Mr Jos? MACEDO e CUNHA
(Portugal).
"The full text of the International Court of Appeal's decision is
available, on request, from the secretariat of the FIA International
Court of Appeal in Paris."
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