Let $G$ be a split semisimple linear algebraic group over a field and let $T$ be a split maximal torus of $G$. Let $𝗁$ be an oriented cohomology (algebraic cobordism, connective $K$-theory, Chow groups, Grothendieck’s $K_0$, etc.) with formal group law $F$. We construct a ring from $F$ and the characters of $T$, that we call a formal group ring, and we define a characteristic ring morphism $c$ from this formal group ring to $𝗁(G/B)$ where $G/B$ is the variety of Borel subgroups of $G$. Our main result says that when the torsion index...