BARCELONA, Spain -- Organizers of the Turkish Formula One
Grand Prix paid half the record $5 million fine imposed for letting
the Turkish Cypriot leader present the winner's prize.
Formula One's governing body, FIA, said Wednesday that the
National Sporting Authority of Turkey still owes the other $2.5
million.
FIA's World Motor Sports Council levied the penalty Sept. 19 on
both the sporting authority and the organizers.
Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat presented the winner's
prize to Felipe Massa at the Aug. 27 Grand Prix in Istanbul. Talat
was introduced as president of the breakaway northern Turkish
Cypriot state -- which only Turkey recognizes -- drawing complaints
from the Republic of Cyprus in the south.
FIA said the prize-giving ceremony may have compromised its
political neutrality.
Turkey escaped the possible sanction of losing the race for next
season but received the sport's heaviest fine.