ADELAIDE, Australia -- Former world driving champion, Ayrton Senna claimed he had been 'treated like a criminal' over his disqualification from the Japanese Grand Prix and subsequent $100,000 fine, and announced Thursday he will appeal both.
'I have been treated like a criminal -- it is totally unacceptable,' the Brazilian told a packed press conference upon his arrival for Sunday's Australian Grand Prix, the final race of the 1989 season.
Two weeks ago at the Japanese Grand Prix, Senna collided with his McLaren teammate and rival Alain Prost with seven laps remaining, in a race he needed to win to keep alive his hopes of retaining his championship.
Prost, who was leading at the time, was unable to resenter the race but Senna was push-started by race marshalls and continued on to take the checkered flag. He was later disqualified for taking a short cut when regaining the track. The decision handed Prost his third world title.
Senna and the McLaren team appealed the decision to the International Automobile Federation (FIA) in Paris, which was dismissed Tuesday. Later, the International Federation of Automobile Sport (FISA) imposed a suspended six-month suspension on Senna, and fined him $100,000 for 'endangering the safety of other drivers' in the Japanese race.
Senna rejected claims by Prost and Ferrari driver Nigel Mansell that he was a dangerous driver.
'I am an aggressive driver, I have always driven the way I believe is right,' the 29-year-old said. 'If I was a dangerous driver I would not be in one piece after five or six years in Formula One.'
In its report on the Japanese race, FISA cited eight 'illegal acts' committed by Senna, including cutting out the chicane (a series of sharp bends to slow cars from high speeds) and not regaining the track at the point at which he left it, and partially leaving the track in order to 'attempt a dangerous maneuver to overtake car Number Two (Prost).'
FISA also listed five incidents which occurred earlier this year and last year in which it held Senna wholly or partially responsible.
The McLaren team has vowed to fight the disqualification in the French courts.
'What we were argung about, what we intend to continue fighting for, is the application of some fundamental values of fair play, integrity and honesty,' McLaren manager Ron Dennis said.
'The accident in Suzuka in no way has any relevance to what subsequently took place. What we feel is important is what took place after that accident. Our principal motivation is to fight for fair play.
'This, as far as McLaren is concerned, is not going to get tucked under the carpet.
In a press release issued in Paris Thursday, FISA noted that in 1985 and 1988 the Paris Courtof Justice decided in favor of FISA and the FIA in two cases which were taken to the French courts.
