Shock Horror - BAR-Honda Accused of Cheating

[mikes94]

Apparently the BAR of Jenson Button was examined by stewards following the Imola race and was found to be underweight. When weighed immediately after the race, the car was above the minimum weight limit. A further random spot check, whereby the fuel is drained from the car, resulted in the car being UNDER the minimum weight. Regulations state that fuel may not be used as ballast ... therefore technically the car was illegal.

After hearing an explanation and seeing subsequent documentation from BAR representatives, the stewards cleared the BAR ... BUT the FIA have appealled the stewards decision and the matter will go before the International Court of Appeal in May. This means that JB could lose the 3rd place ... and who knows what else could happen if it is discovered that BAR have been doing this for more races.

Pitpass.com is reporting that a 'secret' fuel tank was found onboard the BAR also. This means the car could do long stints and run underweight during the race, then at the final pitstop be topped up to ensure a valid minimum weight at the end of the race.

If this is true then I am VERY VERY disappointed and will lose a huge amount of respect for Honda and BAR. This is the kind of work I would expect from Toyota (who have been exposed as cheats in the past) but certainly not Honda. There is some possibility that this may be the work of BAR and not Honda, but with Honda being 45% owner of the team and having engineers working on the chassis as well as the engine ... I don't see how they could not have known about it.

Sochiro will most certainly roll over in his grave if this is true...

[**Ghost**]

damn...

[kenshin]

proof? links?

[mikes94]

www.formula1.com has the 'official' news. Most f1 websites are reporting something similar.

www.pitpass.com has the 'secret fuel-tank' report. No-one else is reporting this yet so it may just be a rumour started by Pitpass writers.
http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=24233

[toE]

This is upsetting to hear.
This will surely damage BAR Honda's image and reputation. It might already has!

Fingers crossed, all works out for the better.

Keep us updated on this issue please.

[^^v]

i sure hope that all is good.. and that they are NOT found guilty of breaking any rules...
its unsettling none the less to hear such accusations...


Further info on the matter...

At 11.33 am UK BST this morning (CET-1), B·A·R Honda received a faxed communication from the Secretary General of the FIA (Sport) confirming that the FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile) is to lodge an appeal against decision number 49 of the Stewards following yesterday's San Marino Grand Prix in Imola.

In accordance with standard procedure, the FIA scrutineers all cars which have completed the race, which involves weighing and measuring the car, as well as performing random checks. During scrutineering of the B·A·R Honda 007-04 race car (entry number car 3) driven by Jenson Button, the FIA requested that the car be measured and weighed to ensure its compliance with the FIA Technical Regulations. The car was found to be compliant with all the regulations, including being above the weight limit.

Thereafter, the FIA decided to perform a further check and requested that the team drain the fuel tank and then siphon out all the residual fuel remaining in the system. Once this had been completed, they determined that the car was below the required minimum weight.

The FIA invited B·A·R Honda to explain their position and the team was able to demonstrate, using its own data and data gathered by the investigating stewards, that the car was above minimum weight at all times during the race.


Late last night, at the Imola circuit, the stewards confirmed that they were satisfied with the factual data supplied by the team. This confirmation was presented to the B·A·R Honda team by the stewards in the form of a signed document entitled decision number 49.

B·A·R Honda is therefore surprised that the FIA has decided to appeal against decision number 49, which was taken by FIA-appointed stewards.

The FIA has requested an appeal hearing at the FIA International Court of Appeal in Paris on Wednesday 4 May 2005. The team will of course co-operate fully with this request.

B·A·R Honda Chief Executive Nick Fry said "B·A·R Honda will provide the same rigorous data presented to the stewards last night and is confident that it can prove once again that the car was fully compliant with the FIA Technical Regulations throughout the San Marino Grand Prix."

Press release
BAR Honda

source f1live.com

[THRUST]

HONDA have nothing to do with this one, its totally BAR, all HONDA do is provide the engine, BAR control everything in terms of Racing, I think Honda will be coming out with their own team in the future.

[mikes94]

No sorry Thrust ... Honda are now 45% owners of BAR. They do not only provide an engine, they also have engineers working in collaboration on the chassis (F1 cars need to be totally integrated to be competitive these days). So whilst BAR are mostly responsible for the chassis ... there are indeed Honda engineers involved in this area also.

[SINISTR]

Bugger!

i think the whole 'EXTRA' tank idea might be a bit of a tale...

have to wait and see I guess!

[IRI]

Haven't honda been done for cheating in F1 before??? Isn't that why they were 'mugen' engines instead of 'honda' engines for the past ten yrs???

[Kawasaki]

Bad news.

Would be good to see honda make a factory team

[mikes94]

Haven't honda been done for cheating in F1 before??? Isn't that why they were 'mugen' engines instead of 'honda' engines for the past ten yrs???

Huh?!?! Where on earth did you hear this?
Honda left f1 previously (1992 I think) as it had no more to prove ... it had handed everyone their a$$es on a plate!

Mugen continued to develop the old Honda unit and supplied to Ligier and then to Jordan. When Honda returned Mugen pulled out (at the advice of Honda).

As for a Honda factory team ... there have been rumors that Honda will completely take over BAR when tobacco sponsorship is banned (within the next couple of years). Honda has stayed out of it until now because it doesn't like to get involved in the politics (they are there for the technical challenge only ).