Thursday March 3rd, 2005

The Grand Prix Street Parade, run on Wednesday in Melbourne, has drawn fire from local police and politicians over serious safety issues resulting from excessive speed of the drivers involved.

The Melbourne Herald Sun newspaper reported using a laser speed measuring device on the cars, clocking V8 Supercar driver Marcus Ambrose at 157km/h over a bridge while the Formula One cars were too fast for the device to measure.

The newspaper also reported an onlooker stating: "Every time a car went by I winced ­- there was nothing to stop any debris from hitting onlookers if they crashed."

A Melbourne City councilor, Fraser Brindley, has criticised safety at the event, particularly in relation to excessive speeds, and a Victoria Police spokesman has confirmed that safety issues would be raised with Grand Prix organisers after the event.

Australian Grand Prix CEO Tim Bamford has denied the allegations, noting: "There were a lot of safety precautions in place for both pedestrians and spectators, and the drivers were some of the best, most professional drivers in the world. The question of the speed isn't really the issue."

Published at 17:16:41 GMT

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(03-11-2005): Australian GP Paddock Gossip (03-09-2005): Greece Finds Site for Formula One Track (03-09-2005): Red Bull Set to Get Honda Engines in 2006 (03-08-2005): Schumacher in Line for Sporting Oscars (03-07-2005): Daily Grapevine Sunday Analysis - Australia

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