Things change but this link is from the FIA website as of the time of this writing -
http://www.fia.com/en-GB/the-fia/governance/Documents/commissions-sport-2011.pdf
Graham Light is listed as the President of the FIA Drag Racing Commission.
Regards
Par Willen
Stockholm, Sweden
Like Par, I hold no brief for the FIA. But glance through the list on this link. See how much it is involved in. Its website will tell you it directly sanctions 28different motorsports worldwide, plus countless others through its national affiliates.
Common sense suggests that a large international organisation which sanctions a multiplicity of sports disciplines -- drag racing just one small part -- must apply its regulations squarely and consistently to everyone everywhere.
Is CompPlus saying the rules should be waived to suit one guy because he's American, while every other nationality must still abide by them?
We all know TJ's only error was failing to fill in the right form at the right time.
Unfortunately, in any kind of jurisdiction anywhere, ignorance of the law is not considered a defence.
"Sorry, Judge, I didn't know it was against the law to knife that guy / rob that bank / shoot that whale from a moving vehicle in Tennessee."
"That's all right, son, you're free to go. But you'll know better next time."
Hans Brings put it succinctly in another thread on this subject. If a Dutch guy shows up at a US port of entry (or a UK one for that matter) with marijuana in his bag, telling the friendly Customs officer, "It's legal in my country, I didn't know it was illegal in yours," isn't going to cut much ice.
Everyone in drag racing, from the FIA Drag Racing Commission on down, was willing TJ to win his appeal and show up at Santa Pod with the Andersens this past weekend to race and secure their championship.