GRAND PRIX DU MARDI GRAS HOPES TO HAVE TITLE SPONSOR SOON

     Having been shelved since '93, New Orleans' Grand Prix du
Mardi Gras "is back," with race Exec Dir Earl Fannin promising,
"This is a new group, with greater dedication and commitment in
terms of marketing and promotion and delivering value to
spectators and sponsors."  While the $400,000 raised from Exxon,
Southwest Airlines, Budget Rent a Truck, and WCKW-FM is three
times more than the amount raised for earlier runnings, Fannin
hopes to double that amount when he secures a title sponsor for
the $1.6M event.  The Grand Prix is being organized by Crescent
City Motorsports and will be co-promoted by the Tampa-based
International Motor Sports Association.  ESPN and ESPN2 will run
seven hours of delayed coverage on October 29 and November 1
(Tawn Parent, NEW ORLEANS CITY BUSINESS, 7/3-9).