APRIL 3, 2003

Bridgestone tires delayed

There were worried faces in the Bridgestone camp on Thursday afternoon in Brazil when it became clear that the Japanese firm did not have enough tires to supply everything that was needed for the race.

The company sent some of its tires in advance to Interlagos but a later shipment of tires ran into trouble when the Varig jet due to carry them to Sao Paulo suffered an engine failure at Los Angeles International Airport, en route to Brazil from Tokyo. This meant that the tires were delayed and were not due to arrive until early Friday morning. The Bridgestone tire fitters were sent home early on Thursday afternoon but were expected to be at the circuit at three o'clock in the morning on Friday.