| If you've been following motor racing, you will | | | | exchange for providing evidence of the plot. |
| most probably have heard of the latest Formula | | | | However, most motor sports fans are up in arms |
| One scandal, nicknamed Crashgate. Over the | | | | with the feeling that Renault got away easily. |
| 2008 F1 Singapore GP, the Renault team | | | | Speculation is of the FIA going as far as possible |
| comprising of Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet | | | | to allow them to stay in the sport, having already |
| Jr, qualified in 15th and 16th place and would | | | | lost Honda this season and BMW already |
| normally not have any hopes of winning the race. | | | | announcing their pull out at the end of this season. |
| As it happened, Piquet Jr intentionally crashed his | | | | The penalties from Crashgate, sometimes |
| car in Lap 14. His purpose of bringing out the | | | | described as the worst scandal in Formula One |
| safety car worked, as Alonso, having refueled | | | | history, also pale in comparison to previous |
| earlier on, went on to take the lead and became | | | | scandals. McLaren for example, was fined a |
| the unlikely winner of the 1st ever night race in | | | | whopping US$100 million and had all points in the |
| Formula One history. | | | | constructors' championship forfeited for spying |
| But now the truth is out and the fall out over this | | | | and possessing Ferrari technical data. |
| scandal begins. Alonso has denied any knowledge | | | | A couple of Formula One drivers might also feel |
| of this plot and has been cleared by the | | | | aggrieved at the ruling. Felipe Massa, who lost out |
| International Automobile Federation (FIA) of any | | | | on the championship to Lewis Hamilton by a single |
| wrongdoing. Renault has also been handed a 2 | | | | point, was leading the race before the deliberate |
| year suspended sentence that would see them | | | | crash and might have gone on to win both the |
| banned if they are found guilty of breaking the | | | | championship and the race if he was not forced |
| rules in the next 2 years. But what of the 3 | | | | to make an unscheduled pitstop. Nico Rosberg, |
| figures central to the scandal? Flavio Briatore, the | | | | the German driver in the Williams team who |
| colorful team principal of Renault was given a | | | | eventually finished second, might feel that he |
| lifetime ban in participating in all forms of motor | | | | deserves to be the rightful winner. |
| sports while Renault chief engineer Pat Symonds, | | | | And what is the future of Nelson Piquet Jr.? |
| was banned for 5 years. However, Nelson Piquet | | | | Although many feel that he got off lightly, would |
| Jr., the driver at the centre of this scandal was | | | | any team hire someone who deliberately crashed |
| not penalized as he was given immunity in | | | | his vehicle? Only time will tell. |