The American pilot, the only black to play in the very popular Nascar championship, had discovered a rope with a noose in his garage, in the context of demonstrations against racism in the United States. But investigators determined that the rope had been there for several months.

FBI investigation opened after discovery of a noose on Sunday in Bubba Wallace's garage in Talladega, Alabama, determined that the only black NASCAR rider "had not been the target" of an act racist, announced the American automobile championship Tuesday. The FBI concluded, thanks to photographic evidence, that "the rope hung on the garage door in the shape of a noose had been placed there as early as last fall," NASCAR said in a statement.

"We are pleased to learn that this was not an intentional racist act against Bubba"

"The investigation has proved, thanks to a video authenticated by NASCAR, that the knot was in garage number 4 as of October 2019," confirmed the American federal police, which had sent 15 agents to the Talladega circuit. "We are grateful to the FBI for its prompt and thorough investigation and are pleased to learn that this was not an intentional racist act against Bubba," added Nascar.

The discovery on Sunday of this rope had caused a great stir, in a context of racial tensions in the United States. The noose-shaped ropes are reminiscent of the lynchings targeting black populations in the United States during the slave and segregationist periods. "It won't break me," said Bubba Wallace. "I will not give up, and I will not back down". Federal authorities had taken up the matter.

The support of the entire NASCAR world       

The entire world of NASCAR, a sport popular among white conservatives in the American South, had supported Wallace, whose car had been pushed by the drivers to the start line before the race.

After announcing the FBI findings, Bubba Wallace told CNN on Tuesday evening that what he had seen was a noose, whether or not he was targeted. "The image I saw of what was hanging in my garage was not a garage door handle," said the pilot. "It was not against me, but someone made a noose."