FIA won't reduce grip on traction control

(14-Jul-98) - McLaren boss Ron Dennis has made it clear he believes
traction control should be made legal in F1, because it is too difficult to
police.

Team bosses have been lobbying the FIA to allow traction control because
they suspect some teams are using systems that can emulate the device.

Dennis insinuated that Ferrari is using such a system, although he
emphasised that he did not think it is breaking the rules.

"Those of you who like a sensational headline will probably feel that
I'm indicating one team or another is doing something outside the
regulations, but that is not what I think," he said. "The
regulations are difficult to police and that's a good reason to change
them."

Gary Anderson, technical director at Jordan, disagrees.

"Allowing throttle or traction control would equalise the field, but
who says it should be equalised? Everyone is worried about the lack of
overtaking, but if you allowed traction control then that is one less
chance for drivers to make the sort of mistake that can lead to an
overtaking manoeuvre."

The FIA insists that it can police traction control and has no plans to legalise it.

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