Prost confirmed as champion

Press, 2 November 1989, Page 36

Prost confirmed as champion

NZPA-Reuter Paris Frenchman Alain Prost was confirmed as world champion yesterday when his Brazilian team-mate, Ayrton Senna’s disqualification from the Japanese Grand Prix was confirmed. Senna was also fined SUSIOO,OOO ($169,000) and given a six-month ban for dangerous driving, being suspended for six months.

The severe punishments were announced at a news conference by the International Automobile Federation (F.1.A.) director general Jacques Sarrut. Prost is confirmed as 1989 world champion before the final race, the Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide on Sunday. Senna’s suspended ban has immediate effect and means he must keep out of

trouble for the next six months. During the Japanese Grand Prix on October 22, Senna, in a race he had to win to stay in the running for the world title, cut inside the race leader, Prost, provoking a crash which sent both cars off the track. The Frenchman abandoned the race but Senna went on to win before being disqualified by officials for failing to negotiate the chicane where the crash occurred. Jean-Marie Balestre, the president of the International Motor Sports Federation (F.1.5.A.) which controls the formula one circuit, told the same news conference the Brazilian had received his heavy penalties for dangerous driving. “You don’t have the right

when you are a great driver to have a stupid accident which destroys the sporting spectacle,” he said. “It is very clear — and the film of the race proves it — that it was excessive speed which caused the accident. “I do not accept drivers who try to win at any price. That's what I have against Senna. I feel responsible for the safety of the drivers — in a way, they are my children. “We have made great strides in security standards in the last five years. The courses are much safer but the international federation does not want our improved image tarnished by inconsiderate or unsafe driving even if I know there are many admirers of Senna and the acrobats, those tight-rope walkers of the track who are

above the norm.” Balestre had harsh words too for McLaren manager, Ron Dennis, who called a news conference in London to reveal a F.I.S.A. report, which had been presented to the appeal tribunal, calling for heavier penalties on Senna. He accused Dennis of trying to prejudice the appeal by threatening to take the matter to a French civil court if Senna’s disqualification was upheld. . He said F.I.S.A. had sent a letter to the F.I.A. appeal court, with a copy to McLaren, protesting against Dennis’s move, saying it “violated the secrecy of the proceedings” and “lacked courtesy." Balestre said Dennis should be aware that F.I.A. rules

state that its court of appeal’s decisions are final and specifically exclude pursuit through the civil courts. He said McLaren risked suspension from the world championship if they pursued the action. Dennis had made a long submission to the tribunal arguing that Prost and not Senna was responsible for the accident at the Suzuka track, Balestre added. The F.I.S.A. president said he would propose that F.I.S.A. award half of Senna’s fine to a fund established for the French driver Philippe Streiff, whose career was ended by a severe accident at the Brazilian Grand Prix 'this year.