BAR Honda Banned for Cheating

Topics:  British American Racing

VOA Sports
Voice of America
May 5, 2005

The Honda-backed British American Racing (BAR) Formula One team has been banned for two races after a tribunal ruled Jenson Button's car had raced illegally at last month's San Marino Grand Prix.

The FIA's international court of appeal also stripped the British driver of the six points he won for finishing third at Imola.  Japanese teammate Takuma Sato loses his four points for finishing fifth.  The sport's governing body had called for BAR-Honda to be banned for the season.

FIA had accused BAR-Honda of running an underweight car and using a special secret second fuel tank.  Race stewards originally said Button's car met the 600 kilogram minimum weight, but then when the fuel was drained the car was five kilos too light.

BAR has denied any wrongdoing, saying the car complied with FIA standards during the race.  The British-American team also said the so-called second fuel tank was only a collector that distributes fuel evenly to the engine during the race.

FIA's decision moves McLaren driver Alexander Wurz of Austria up to third place in the San Marino results table.

Some information for this report provided by AP.