McLaren chiefs quizzed in F1 spying scandal

LONDON, England -- McLaren Formula One chiefs have been questioned by Italian investigators as part of the ongoing Fornula One spying scandal.

The team has already been fined a record $100 million by the world governing body, the FIA, but the legal process is still progressing in Italy.

McLaren were found guilty by the FIA of being in possession of unauthorized data belonging to rivals Ferrari and were also docked all their points in the 2007 constructors' battle.

That was after a 780-page Ferrari dossier was discovered at the home of chief designer Mike Coughlan.

Nigel Stepney, sacked as Ferrari's head of performance development and alleged to have passed the information on to Coughlan, was last week questioned on the matter by Modena prosecutor Giuseppe Tibis.

It is understood team principal Ron Dennis, F1 CEO Martin Whitmarsh, engineering director Paddy Lowe and senior employees Jonathan Neale and Rob Taylor were all quizzed at their homes in England.

A statement released by McLaren read: "McLaren Racing has today continued its co-operation with enquiries instigated by the Modena Magistrate.

"The Surrey Police accompanied Italian investigators to the homes of a number of McLaren executives as part of their ongoing investigation.

"A similar process has been performed at the McLaren Technology Centre.

"The police are completely satisfied with the co-operation they have received.

"These actions are part of a normal judicial process in connection with the ongoing investigation, and are supported by McLaren Racing."

McLaren has been warned by the FIA that their car for the 2008 season will come under close scrutiny with the possibility of further punishment if it is deemed to have used information from the Ferrari dossier. E-mail to a friend