Indianapolis ? Michael Schumacher climbed from his car to a chorus of boos, die-hard Formula One fans unable to accept his first victory of the season after more than two-thirds of the field quit in protest over tire safety.

Sparking a fiasco for a series desperate to capture the American audience, Michelin advised the 14 cars it supplies that its tires were unsafe for the final banked turn at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Unable to forge a compromise, all 14 Michelin teams ducked off the track after the warmup lap Sunday, leaving Schumacher and the five other drivers who use Bridgestone tires to race among themselves.

Fans headed for the exits in disgust, drivers were left bewildered, and track officials joined team members in speaking afterward as if the United States Grand Prix itself is in jeopardy.

Schumacher returned to the podium, but there was no champagne toast for the Ferrari team on this Sunday.

“Bit of a strange Grand Prix,” Schumacher said. “Not the right way to win my first one this year.”

When an agreement couldn’t be reached over the use of fresh tires or the placement of a chicane to slow the cars going into turn 13, the Michelin teams pulled off the track and parked in a unified protest.

“I feel terrible. I have a sick feeling in my stomach,” David Coulthard said after pulling out of the race. “I am embarrassed to be a part of this.”

The situation created a farce of a race for F-1, the world’s most popular series. The series already is struggling to build an American fan base, and Indy officials were left unsure of the event’s future.

“Undoubtedly, this sets us back in all of our efforts or all of the gains we’ve made in introducing this sport to America,” said Joie Chitwood, track president.