INDIANAPOLIS, U.S. -- Motor racing's governing body is on the alert to punish the use of "team orders" as Michael Schumacher, Juan Pablo Montoya and Kimi Raikkonen prepare to do battle in the U.S.Grand Prix this weekend, in the tightest end-of-season fight in years.
Orders to a driver to help a team-mate to improve his race position, have been banned this season after the global condemnation provoked by Ferrari when they manipulated the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix.
"Any evidence of team orders will be put in front of stewards, and I mean any evidence," said FIA president Max Mosley.
"The wording of the regulation made in October last year was done with the agreement of the teams. This has not changed and will be strictly applied.
"They have already approved a hard line on team orders and the FIA is determined to see it through for the good of the sport. We will be looking at everything."
Ferrari's Schumacher, who could seize a record sixth world title at Indianapolis on Sunday, leads Williams' Colombian Montoya by three points and McLaren's Raikkonen by seven.
Williams lead Ferrari by four points in the constructors' standings, with McLaren 21 behind.
In previous years any title-chasing driver could expect assistance from a team-mate and McLaren chief Ron Dennis is adamant that drivers are entitled to help each other.
"We are a team and the drivers will drive as a team," he said. "If those circumstances exist where it is appropriate for them to help each other, I'm sure they will.
"We are a racing team and you would expect team mates to help each other in these circumstances."
Angry fans
Fans were angry with Ferrari at Austria and Indianapolis last year. At Spielberg they jeered and booed when Barrichello, having led from the start, slowed at the finish and let Schumacher past for victory.
At Indianapolis, Schumacher led and then slowed at the line in what looked like an attempt to engineer a dead heat, but Barrichello was declared the winner.
The incidents led to the FIA outlawing team orders.
Williams technical director Patrick Head said that his team would leave it up to the individuals.
"If the drivers chose to make that decision, that's up to the drivers. It won't be imposed by the team as clearly we're not allowed to," he said.
Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn believes the team is responsible for its drivers' decisions.
"I don't think the team can step back and say 'it was nothing to do with us because he made that decision'."
But he added: "If you've got two drivers in the last race and one can win the world championship, you don't want the other guy getting in the way. I think that's legitimate.
"If the other guy then tries to take an action which improves his team mate's position beyond staying out of the way then I think that's possibly going over the mark."
Mosley said race stewards would use their judgment. "The FIA stewards can draw inferences from circumstances and take whatever action they think necessary," he said. "We do not want the teams to have any illusions about where we stand on this."
http://edition.cnn.com/2003/SPORT/09/25/motor.mosley/
Orders to a driver to help a team-mate to improve his race position, have been banned this season after the global condemnation provoked by Ferrari when they manipulated the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix.
"Any evidence of team orders will be put in front of stewards, and I mean any evidence," said FIA president Max Mosley.
"The wording of the regulation made in October last year was done with the agreement of the teams. This has not changed and will be strictly applied.
"They have already approved a hard line on team orders and the FIA is determined to see it through for the good of the sport. We will be looking at everything."
Ferrari's Schumacher, who could seize a record sixth world title at Indianapolis on Sunday, leads Williams' Colombian Montoya by three points and McLaren's Raikkonen by seven.
Williams lead Ferrari by four points in the constructors' standings, with McLaren 21 behind.
In previous years any title-chasing driver could expect assistance from a team-mate and McLaren chief Ron Dennis is adamant that drivers are entitled to help each other.
"We are a team and the drivers will drive as a team," he said. "If those circumstances exist where it is appropriate for them to help each other, I'm sure they will.
"We are a racing team and you would expect team mates to help each other in these circumstances."
Angry fans
Fans were angry with Ferrari at Austria and Indianapolis last year. At Spielberg they jeered and booed when Barrichello, having led from the start, slowed at the finish and let Schumacher past for victory.
At Indianapolis, Schumacher led and then slowed at the line in what looked like an attempt to engineer a dead heat, but Barrichello was declared the winner.
The incidents led to the FIA outlawing team orders.
Williams technical director Patrick Head said that his team would leave it up to the individuals.
"If the drivers chose to make that decision, that's up to the drivers. It won't be imposed by the team as clearly we're not allowed to," he said.
Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn believes the team is responsible for its drivers' decisions.
"I don't think the team can step back and say 'it was nothing to do with us because he made that decision'."
But he added: "If you've got two drivers in the last race and one can win the world championship, you don't want the other guy getting in the way. I think that's legitimate.
"If the other guy then tries to take an action which improves his team mate's position beyond staying out of the way then I think that's possibly going over the mark."
Mosley said race stewards would use their judgment. "The FIA stewards can draw inferences from circumstances and take whatever action they think necessary," he said. "We do not want the teams to have any illusions about where we stand on this."
http://edition.cnn.com/2003/SPORT/09/25/motor.mosley/
