buzzcut Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 Yes, more sping in the sporting world of ours(as far a I can deduce, Bill Belicheck was not involved).McLaren drivers can still win title despite team's $100 million fineAssociated Press PARIS -- The McLaren team was fined $100 million and stripped of its points in the constructors' standings Thursday in the spying scandal that has rocked the sport. McLaren, which leads the current drivers' and constructors' standings, was punished by the World Motor Sports Council for allegedly using leaked secret technical documents belonging to F1 rival Ferrari. Team drivers Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, currently 1-2 in the championship standings, were not punished and can continue to compete for the season title. "Ferrari is satisfied that the truth has now emerged,'' the Italian team said in a statement. The $100 million penalty includes McLaren's expected loss of income, and McLaren still could be penalized for the 2008 championship, FIA said in a statement after a hearing. McLaren escaped the harshest possible penalty, as FIA could have kicked the team and its drivers out of the 2007 and 2008 championships. In December, FIA will decide on any possible sanctions against McLaren for the 2008 season. FIA said it did not penalize McLaren's drivers "due to exceptional circumstances'' because they provided evidence in exchange for immunity. "We believe we have grounds for appeal,'' team chief Ron Dennis said. "But of course we are going to wait for the findings of the FIA which are going to be published. The most important thing is that we go motor racing this weekend, the rest of the season and next season.'' The case broke open in July when a 780-page technical dossier on Ferrari cars was found at the home of McLaren's chief designer, Mike Coughlan, who later was suspended. Ferrari mechanic Nigel Stepney, who allegedly supplied the documents, was fired. Rookie English driver Hamilton leads the standings with 92 points, followed by two-time F1 champion Alonso of Spain with 89. Ferrari teammates Kimi Raikkonen (74) and Felipe Massa (69) are third and fourth. Four races remain in the season, starting with Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix. Hamilton and Alonso finished 1-2 in Sunday's Italian Grand Prix to extend McLaren's lead in the constructors' championship to 23 points. McLaren had 166, Ferrari 143. Under Thursday's ruling, McLaren loses all its constructors' points and is ineligible from scoring any more in the season's final races. The World Motor Sport Council ruled in July that McLaren was guilty of fraudulent conduct for possessing the Ferrari documents but did not punish the team because there was insufficient evidence the material was misused. However, the council warned that McLaren could be kicked out of the 2007 and 2008 series if it is found in the future that the information has been used "to the detriment of the championship."FIA announced last week it was calling a new hearing of the council after "new evidence'' had emerged. Among those appearing at the hearing before the 26-member council were Hamilton, Dennis and McLaren test driver Pedro De La Rosa. Alonso did not attend. Others attending included Ross Brawn, Ferrari's former technical director, and team officials from Red Bull, Williams and Spyker. FIA president Max Mosley sent letters to Alonso, Hamilton and De La Rosa on Aug. 31, saying the sport's regulator had been told that "one or more McLaren drivers may be in possession ... of written evidence relevant to this investigation.'' Mosley asked the three drivers to cooperate "in the interests of the sport and the championship'' and offered them amnesty in return. Mosley also wrote that "serious consequences would follow'' if they were later found to "have withheld any potentially relevant information.'' The case against McLaren reportedly consists of a 166-page dossier that includes e-mail exchanges between De la Rosa and Alonso, as well as details of phone and text message traffic between Coughlan and Stepney supplied to FIA by authorities in Italy.Separately, McLaren was notified Saturday that it is being investigated in a separate criminal inquiry in Italy. Dennis and five other team personnel are reportedly under investigation. Those allegations stem from Ferrari's criminal case against Stepney for allegedly placing a mysterious white powder on the gas tanks of the team's cars before the Monaco GP, in a supposed sabotage attempt. The CCSLC's resident Geelong Cats fan. Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends. Sounds like something from a Rocky & Bullwinkle story arc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Donald Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 The words total followed by BS spring to mind. Absolute joke! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koizim Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 For the record it's espionage, not espionege. Engine, Engine, Number Nine, on the New York transit line, If my train goes off the track, pick it up! Pick it up! Pick it up! Back on the scene, crispy and clean, You can try, but then why, 'cause you can't intervene. We be the outcast, down for the settle. Won't play the rock, won't play the pebble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nwtrailtrekker Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 damn. i thought the mariners we're gonna go for a record of 3 coaches in one season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred T. Jane Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 For the record its espionage, not espionege.I'd point something out too, but apparently to spell correctly is to be a pansy... [Croatia National Team Manager Slavan] Bilic then went on to explain how Croatia's success can partially be put down to his progressive man-management techniques. "Sometimes I lie in the bed with my players. I go to the room of Vedran Corluka and Luka Modric when I see they have a problem and I lie in bed with them and we talk for 10 minutes." Maybe Capello could try getting through to his players this way too? Although how far he'd get with Joe Cole jumping up and down on the mattress and Rooney demanding to be read his favourite page from The Very Hungry Caterpillar is open to question. --The Guardian's Fiver, 08 September 2008 Attention: In order to obtain maximum enjoyment from your stay at the CCSLC, the reader is advised that the above post may contain large amounts of sarcasm, dry humour, or statements which should not be taken in any true sort of seriousness. As a result, the above poster absolves himself of any and all blame in the event that a forum user responds to the aforementioned post without taking the previous notice into account. Thank you for your cooperation, and enjoy your stay at the CCSLC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koizim Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 For the record it's espionage, not espionege.I'd point something out too, but apparently to spell correctly is to be a pansy... Oops, my bad! Fixed it. Engine, Engine, Number Nine, on the New York transit line, If my train goes off the track, pick it up! Pick it up! Pick it up! Back on the scene, crispy and clean, You can try, but then why, 'cause you can't intervene. We be the outcast, down for the settle. Won't play the rock, won't play the pebble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred T. Jane Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 For the record it's espionage, not espionege.I'd point something out too, but apparently to spell correctly is to be a pansy... Oops, my bad! Fixed it.Oh, I wasn't referencing you, but I'm glad to help regardless! [Croatia National Team Manager Slavan] Bilic then went on to explain how Croatia's success can partially be put down to his progressive man-management techniques. "Sometimes I lie in the bed with my players. I go to the room of Vedran Corluka and Luka Modric when I see they have a problem and I lie in bed with them and we talk for 10 minutes." Maybe Capello could try getting through to his players this way too? Although how far he'd get with Joe Cole jumping up and down on the mattress and Rooney demanding to be read his favourite page from The Very Hungry Caterpillar is open to question. --The Guardian's Fiver, 08 September 2008 Attention: In order to obtain maximum enjoyment from your stay at the CCSLC, the reader is advised that the above post may contain large amounts of sarcasm, dry humour, or statements which should not be taken in any true sort of seriousness. As a result, the above poster absolves himself of any and all blame in the event that a forum user responds to the aforementioned post without taking the previous notice into account. Thank you for your cooperation, and enjoy your stay at the CCSLC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrAsterisk Posted September 14, 2007 Share Posted September 14, 2007 Before I read the "industrial espionage" bit, I thought England had just sacked Steve McClaren after his only good international week since taking over.Both McLaren drivers looked supremely preoccupied on the podium last weekend at Monza; nonetheless, it was probably in F1's own interests to ensure that the exciting race in the Drivers' Championship remains intact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Donald Posted September 14, 2007 Share Posted September 14, 2007 it was probably in F1's own interests to ensure that the exciting race in the Drivers' Championship remains intact.Agreed if they'd been penalised then I think then sport would be on the brink of self-imploding (at least in the UK). I wouldn't be surprised if Bernie pulled some strings to prevent it from happening - he's got to protect his investment after all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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