Thaindian News

London, Sep 11 (ANI): Ace driver Fernando Alonso has insisted that he was not involved in the race-fix scandal, which has rocked Formula One.

The Spaniard’s Renault team face being kicked out of the sport after being charged with ordering their former driver Nelson Piquet to crash in last September’s Singapore Grand Prix.

Brazilian Piquet has claimed the order came from team chief Flavio Briatore and technical director Pat Symonds in a meeting before the race.

Piquet crashed into a wall after 14 laps helping Alonso, who had pitted just two laps earlier, to take the lead and hold on to give Renault its first win of the season.

“No. For me, it’s difficult to understand this situation and these investigations. I’m surprised but it’s time to start thinking about the Italian Grand Prix. I’m not spending any time on this,” Alonso said when asked whether he knew of the alleged fix.

“Flavio is one of the good people here and he always has my support. He is nice person, a nice boss. He is a friend who has always supported my career from the time I was at Minardi,” The Sun quoted Alonso, as saying.

The Anglo-French team will have to answer the charges at a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Paris on September 21. The WMSC has the power to impose a massive fine, suspend the team or kick the French car manufacturer out of the sport.

The transcript of Piquet’s written evidence to the investigators backs up Alonso’s claim that he was not involved in the alleged fix.

Piquet, 24, was sacked by Britatore after last July’s Hungarian GP because of poor results and is then understood to have gone to the FIA - the sport’s governing body - with the shock claims.

In the statement, Piquet claims he was told by Symonds to crash on lap 17 as there was no crane near that spot. That meant the safety car would be sent out giving the advantage to Alonso from his early stop as all the main contenders had to go into the pits. (ANI)