Michelin blames accidents on debris.

Tyre supplier Michelin has claimed that debris was the primary cause of the accidents that took Fernando Alonso and Ralf Schumacher out of the United States Grand Prix, dramatically so in the German's case.

Both Alonso and Schumacher crashed early in proceedings at Indianapolis, the Spaniard being flicked into the retaining wall after his right rear tyre gave way at the end of the main straight, and the German shunting heavily exiting the final turn - at maximum speed - after suffering a similar failure. While the increased temperature brought about by running in June rather than September, combined with the high speed nature of the 'oval' section of circuit had been blamed in some quarters, Michelin's Pierre Dupasquier was insistent that debris from earlier incidents was the real cause.

"This was a race any one of several Michelin drivers could definitely have won, but the two safety car periods and other circumstances contrived to thwart us," he said, "It's a shame, because our tyres have performed extremely well all weekend. They have been fast and consistent in equal measure, and we have had absolutely no
blistering problems, despite the fierce heat.

"Fernando Alonso and Ralf Schumacher suffered deflated right and left rear tyres respectively, but we have examined the tyres and it is clear that both were damaged by debris that had been picked up from the track, probably in the wake of the multiple pile-up at the first corner."

While Schumacher was taken to hospital after being knocked out in his impact, Alonso was able to step from the remains of his Renault after going off while braking for turn one.

"It is difficult to explain because everything happened so fast, but I think it was a puncture," the Spaniard said after returning to the pits, "I lost the chance of a podium today. It was a shame because I got a fantastic start and braked very late into the first corner because I knew it would be one of the only chances to overtake. I was third straight away."