INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
JOIE CHITWOOD (President and COO, Indianapolis Motor Speedway):
(Why was the decision made so late in the day?): “I wish I could answer that. We’re surprised as anyone that this misfortune occurred today, and with the results we witnessed out on the track. We are as disappointed as we’ve ever been in hosting an event here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.”
(About options the Speedway may have with refunds for fans): “We’re going to analyze our situation, our position here. We’re probably going to respond appropriately in the next coming days. There are a number of questions like that which we will have to sit down and look at and come up with a better response.”
(About asking FOM for return of sanctioning fee): “We will be seriously looking at our position on the response we give in the next couple days as to the event and what’s appropriate for us to do.”
(About voiding the contract with Formula One): “That’s premature to be discussing that right now. What occurred today was something we were not prepared for. We invested a lot of time and effort in preparing this property for a world-class racing event. The inability to have control over the actions today … to say it’s a disappointment is an understatement. Everyone here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway prides themselves on producing world-class events. The fact we had no control over what control over what occurred today is our greatest disappointment.”
(Is this the darkest day in the Speedway’s history?): “No one at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is proud of what occurred today.”
(What was the issue with the tires?): “You’ll have to direct that to someone with FIA, Formula One or Michelin.”
(How does this affect motorsports in general?): “I think the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been doing a great job introducing this sport to America. We’ve been very aggressive in how we promote it. You can look at the activities we’ve done that are different than other Grand Prixs, whether it’s a Pit Walkabout, allowing fans on pit lane to see things, or tomorrow, hopefully we will have fans show up for our Drivearound, when they renew their tickets. If anything, we’ve try to do our best job to promote it. Undoubtedly, this sets us back in all of our efforts or all of the gains we’ve made in introducing this sport to America.”
(How does this affect the future of Formula One in the U.S.?): “I would say it is a major setback.”
(Where do you lay the blame?): “Well, I can tell you this. We feel as victimized as the fans do in what they witnessed today. We had no control over the ability to stage an event. The people who had the ability to control things today were the FIA, Formula One and Michelin.”
(Will you demand to have more control if Formula One returns?): “I think this point, before we even broach that subject, we need to evaluate or position. Then we can respond to what the future might be.” (When did you become aware of a potential problem?): “We were aware that Michelin had submitted a letter to the FIA last night. I think it was around 10 p.m. This morning, there were rumors that something was going to occur. We were not aware of what was going to happen on the grid today.”
(About Formula One’s reaction): “I believe Mr. Eccelstone is aware of position and our unhappiness with what occurred today.”
(Did you have the means to prepare a chicane before Turn 13?): “That decision was out of our control. That is something that was between FIA and Formula One and Michelin. It was out of our control. It did not get to our ability. That was something out of our control. We were not privy to that.”
(About safety issue): “The Indianapolis Motor Speedway prides itself on safety. We have been a leader on innovations we have here, be it the SAFER Barrier or other things. I think there is a responsibility to be prepared for this event. We did our best in three weeks to convert from an oval track to a road course, and we were prepared for this event. I wish everyone had been prepared for this event.”
