SEPTEMBER 23, 2000

Formula One workers held by US customs

52 Formula One workers have been held by customs officials at Detroit's Metro airport, according to reports in the United States media.

The 52 workers are being held after they allegedly misled immigration officers by claiming they were tourists when in truth they are believed to be coming into America to work as waiters and cooks at the Indianapolis Speedway.

"Their companies knew they couldn't get in and sent them anyway," said an immigration official. "They should know whether entering the country as a worker is right or wrong."

Reports said that the detainees were thought to be mainly Finnish, Danish and Austrian.