There will be an IndyCar race opposite the Indy 500,
according to a report on ESPN's "SportsCenter." Bob Ley reported
the CART/IndyCar board has approved a race on May 26 at the
Michigan Int'l Speedway. On the later edition of "SportsCenter,"
Keith Olbermann said the dispute between IndyCar and the new IRL,
which controls the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy 500,
is "shaping up as the sports war of 1996" ("SportsCenter,"
12/19). CART Chair Andrew Craig said the vote of IndyCar racing
team owners in Chicago was unanimous, and that the new race will
be called the U.S. 500. The controversy stems from IRL Founder
Tony George's decision to change qualifying at Indy 500 to favor
a field of IRL drivers. A television package and sponsors for
the new race will be announced at a later date (INDIANAPOLIS
STAR-NEWS, 12/19). Yesterday, AD AGE ONLINE reported CBS was
"said to be interested" in the CART event. Philip Morris,
Firestone and Kmart were listed as possible sponsors (AD AGE,
12/19). But CBS Sports spokesperson Leslie Ann Wade said the
network was approached by IndyCar, but turned them down (Steve
Ballard, USA TODAY, 12/19). The N.Y. TIMES calls it "the
equivalent of a race for 3-year-olds the same day as the Kentucky
Derby." Joseph Siano reports some CART teams have been told by
sponsors that they will lose a large portion of sponsorship funds
if they do not field cars at Indy. About six of the 28 regular
CART teams are likely to enter Indy, with some racing at both
sites. PPG Industries, a longtime CART sponsor, has said it will
declare its '96 contract invalid if CART boycotts the Indy 500.
PPG has already refused to renew it sponsorship deal with Indy.
Other potential effects include the loss of attendance at Indy
practice and qualifying events. The race itself is already sold
out (N.Y. TIMES, 12/19).
