The event took place on June 19, 2005, at the 4.192 km (2.605 mi) 13-turn Indianapolis Motor Speedway infield road course, located in Speedway, Indiana. It was the sixth Formula One race held at this circuit. Before the event, Renault driver Fernando Alonso led the World Drivers' Championship with 59 points, ahead of McLaren's Kimi Räikkönen with 37 points and Toyota's Jarno Trulli with 27 points. Renault led the World Constructors' Championships with 76 points, followed by McLaren with 63 points.
The track's oval portion had been repaved after the 2004 Brickyard 400. Turn 13 of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course was a high-speed banked turn, unique in Formula One at the time, which subjected tyres to greater than usual loads. The repaved surface was more abrasive, potentially increasing tyre stress further.
The crisis began during the afternoon practice session on June 17, 2005, when Ralf Schumacher, driving for Toyota, crashed heavily in Turn 13 due to a left-rear tyre failure. He was unable to continue racing and was replaced by the team's test driver, Ricardo Zonta, who also experienced a left-rear tyre failure during practice. Schumacher had previously crashed at the same spot in 2004 due to a tyre failure while driving for Williams, resulting in a broken back.
Michelin, which had provided tyres for the race since 2001, reported on June 18 that it did not understand why the tyres supplied to its seven customer teams—BAR, McLaren, Red Bull, Renault, Sauber, Toyota, and Williams—had failed. The company announced its intention to fly in tyres of a different specification from its Clermont-Ferrand headquarters. However, these replacement tyres, of a type used in the Spanish Grand Prix earlier that year, exhibited the same problem when tested.
In a letter to FIA Race Director Charlie Whiting dated June 18, Michelin representatives Pierre Dupasquier and Nick Shorrock stated they did not know the cause of the Toyota tyre failures and could not guarantee the tyres' safety for more than 10 laps unless cars could be slowed down in Turn 13. Whiting replied on June 19, expressing surprise that Michelin had not brought suitable tyres and suggesting teams limit their drivers to Michelin's specified maximum safe speed in Turn 13. He rejected proposals for a chicane, stating it was "out of the question" and that the race would not be FIA-sanctioned if the track layout changed. He considered the Michelin teams' proposals "grossly unfair" to the Bridgestone-shod teams.
On the morning of the race, a meeting was held involving Speedway president Tony George, senior Michelin representatives, Bernie Ecclestone (president and CEO of Formula One Management and Formula One Administration), and the team principals, with the exception of Ferrari's Jean Todt. Michelin representatives reiterated that their tyres could not safely complete the race distance and requested permission from the Bridgestone teams to install a chicane in Turn 13. The attendees discussed and agreed to reject the FIA's solution of speed-limiting Michelin cars due to accident potential. They also dismissed the idea of pit stops every ten laps, concluding a chicane was the best solution.
Ecclestone consulted Todt, who was not present, and FIA President Max Mosley, who was not at the race. Ecclestone reported that Todt refused to agree to the chicane, stating it was an FIA and Michelin problem, not his. Todt later denied being consulted but confirmed he would not have agreed if asked. Ecclestone also reported that Mosley had stated that "if any attempts were made to alter the circuit, he would cancel the Grand Prix forthwith." The FIA later denied Mosley made this threat.
The Michelin team principals, along with Minardi owner Paul Stoddart and Bernie Ecclestone, decided their cars should participate in the formation lap but not race. Jordan's Colin Kolles, however, decided his team would race despite earlier agreement not to. Stoddart, whose Minardi team also used Bridgestone tyres, was approached by a Bridgestone representative who wanted him to race. Stoddart stated that given his "current relationship with Mr Mosley, [he] felt certain heavy sanctions would follow if [he] did not [race]." He decided to allow his drivers to start but planned to retire them if the Jordans did not finish.
It was later stated that the Michelin-shod teams could have potentially faced criminal liability under Indiana state law had they competed, for knowingly putting others at risk.
At the start of the race, all 20 cars lined up on the grid. As the green light signaled the formation lap, all cars set off. However, at the banked Turn 13, the entrance to the pit lane, all 14 cars running Michelin tyres (from BAR, McLaren, Red Bull, Renault, Sauber, Toyota, and Williams) returned to their pit box areas, leaving only six cars from the three Bridgestone teams (Ferrari, Jordan, and Minardi) to start the race.
The withdrawal infuriated the estimated 100,000 to 130,000 attendees, who were unaware of the plan. By lap 10, many had begun to leave the grandstands. Thousands of fans reportedly went to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway ticket office to demand refunds, requiring police intervention to maintain peace. Boos were heard throughout the race, and some upset fans threw beer cans and water bottles onto the track.
With the retirement of the drivers who qualified ahead of them, Michael Schumacher and his Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello were the foremost starters, maintaining their qualified grid positions. They were followed by Jordan drivers Tiago Monteiro and Narain Karthikeyan, and Minardi drivers Christijan Albers and Patrick Friesacher.
Schumacher retained the lead from the start. The two Ferrari drivers quickly built a significant lead. The only changes in positioning occurred when Albers briefly overtook Karthikeyan but later lost the position. The race became a story of pit strategy, with Albers being the only driver to make three pit stops, while others stopped twice. Lead changes occurred on lap 26 when Schumacher's 32-second stop gave Barrichello the lead, and on lap 51 when Schumacher's quicker 23.615-second pit stop allowed him to exit the pit lane alongside Barrichello, forcing Barrichello onto the grass in Turn One. This incident was not investigated by race officials, but both Ferrari drivers were reminded over their radios not to crash. They then settled into a slower pace, comfortably ahead.
Schumacher won the race, his 84th career victory and fourth win at the US Grand Prix, as well as his third consecutive win at the event. He finished 1.522 seconds ahead of Barrichello. Monteiro and Karthikeyan finished third and fourth respectively, more than a lap down. The Minardis of Albers and Friesacher were fifth and sixth, two laps behind. All four drivers for Jordan and Minardi scored their first points in Formula One at this race. Karthikeyan's points were the first and only for an Indian driver in Formula One. This was also the final race at which the Minardi team tallied points and the only one where Albers and Friesacher scored points.
At the podium ceremony, none of the scheduled dignitaries were present. Ferrari team members quietly accepted their awards and quickly exited. Monteiro stayed to celebrate his first and only podium finish, which remains, as of 2025, the only podium finish for a Portuguese driver.
Schumacher's win, his only victory of 2005, moved him from fifth to third in the World Drivers' Championship with 34 points. Alonso and Räikkönen remained first and second with 59 and 37 points respectively. Barrichello moved to fourth with 29 points, and Trulli dropped to fifth with 27 points. Ferrari moved into joint second in the Constructors' Championship, matching McLaren with 63 points, both trailing Renault with 76 points. Both Jordan and Minardi scored points, moving out of a tie with BAR-Honda at the bottom of the constructors' standings.
Bernie Ecclestone described the future of Formula One in the United States and Michelin's future in the sport as "not good," stating the incident was "not the fault of the teams." The race was widely labeled a "farce." Minardi boss Paul Stoddart called the race a "farce" and laid blame on Mosley and the FIA for the failure to reach an accommodation, calling for Mosley's resignation. He also stated that the points battle between Jordan and Minardi was "ruined."
The FIA published a justification for its refusal to permit tyre changes or a chicane, arguing that Formula One operated under "clear rules" that could not be altered when a team "brings the wrong equipment to a race." It also claimed a chicane would have resulted in a track altered "without following any of the modern safety procedures," exposing the FIA to legal liability. The FIA summoned the seven Michelin-shod teams before the World Motor Sport Council for a hearing on June 29 to explain their failure to participate, charging them with violating article 151c of the International Sporting Code ("acts prejudicial to the interests of competition or motorsport generally").
On June 29, the FIA World Motor Sport Council found the teams guilty of not having suitable tyres, "but with strong mitigating circumstances," and failure to allow their cars to start the race. They were found not guilty of other charges. However, on July 22, the FIA World Motor Sport Council voted to overturn its previous decision, exonerating the Michelin teams of all charges. This decision was based on "evidence previously submitted to the FIA Senate," where McLaren team principal Ron Dennis and Red Bull principal Christian Horner argued that Indiana state law left the Michelin teams no option but to withdraw, citing potential criminal charges for knowingly endangering others.
On June 28, Michelin announced it would offer compensation to all fans who purchased tickets for the Grand Prix, issuing refund cheques through the Speedway ticket office. Additionally, Michelin purchased 20,000 tickets for the 2006 United States Grand Prix to be distributed to spectators who attended the 2005 race. There was discussion about holding a second, non-championship race at Indianapolis, but Speedway president Tony George dismissed the possibility on July 3, stating, "There will be no race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this fall."
Gallery · 4 related images
