"heavily penalized if they changed tires"

MonkeyWatch prediction: nobody will choose to visibly sit it out, but a few unlikely "transmission ignition failures" aren't impossible.

Oh, and while I'm at it, we're not laughing with you, we're laughing at you, Bib!

Update: I'm wrong as wrong can be. All fourteen cars on Michelin tires went to the garage before the start of the race. The six Ferrari, Jordan, and Minardi cars, on Bridgestones, race. Fans, sponsors, advertisers, not amused.

Sissy Willis relays an eyewitness report.

Teams blame the FIA.
Michelin blames the FIA.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway blames the FIA, Michelin, and the teams.
Max blames the teams.
JV blames Michelin, Ferrari.
Minardi principal Stoddart blames Max, Jordan.

Debacle, fiasco, farce.