History was set yesterday.
The largest fine ever imposed on a motorsports organization. (Probably on any sports organization)
The World MotorSports Council has fined Vodafone Mclaren Mercedes $100M(USD) for breaking an article in the International Sporting Code.
One Hundred, Million, Dollars.
Let’s put this is perspective.
A typical NASCAR Nextel Cup team spends around $12-15M a season. I’ve even read that a team owner claimed he’d need $30M in sponsorship dollars to break even for a 30 race season.
Giving them the benefit of the doubt, we’ll say $30M.
This means that McLaren was fined (payable within three months of the date of the decision) the amount of money it would take a typical NASCAR team to run for three years.
A top-tier NASCAR Nextel Cup car, including engine is roughly $125k. Each team keeps 10-12 on hand in different set ups, etc.
A top-tier Formula One car, including engine is roughly $1-2M.
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Fun number:
The estimated total of the 11 teams in Formula One for the 2006 season was $2.8Billion(USD)
This was broken down as follows; Toyota $418.5 million, Ferrari $406.5m, McLaren $402m, Honda $380.5m, BMW Sauber $355m, Renault $324m, Red Bull $252m, Williams $195.5m, Midland F1/Spyker-MF1 $120m, Toro Rosso $75m, and Super Aguri $57 million. (from wikipedia)
