By Phil Huff
March 16 2005

The FIA have moved swiftly to close the engine loophole exploited by BAR Honda at the Australian Grand Prix, clarifying exactly what constitutes a failure to finish. The regulations state that "Should it become necessary for a driver to use another engine he will drop ten places on the starting grid at that Event and may not use another engine until the end of the next Event. Any driver who failed to finish the race at the first of the two Events may start the second with a different engine without incurring a penalty."

The FIA now comment that "as a result of what happened on the last lap of the race in Melbourne a distinction will now be made between failing to finish and choosing not to finish, the former is normally accidental or beyond the control of the driver while the latter is not."

Speculation is now rife around the internet that BAR Honda could face a 10-place penalty on the grid for this weekends Malaysian Grand Prix. However, in the text of the clarification, the FIA confirm that they will investigate the circumstances surrounding a retirement starting from the Sepang race, leaving BAR free to change their engines as planned.

Additionally, should it become clear that the team will be penalised for changing an engine, then they will revert back to the engines used in Australia.