WILL NEW IRL EXEC LEO MEHL HELP BRIDGE DISPUTE WITH CART?

          The Indy-car fraternity "is abuzz" about the IRL's
     changes to the top of the organization, according to Robin
     Miller of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS.  Among the
     appointments was former Goodyear exec Leo Mehl, who replaced
     Jack Long as Exec Dir.  Miller notes "quite a bit of
     friction" between Long and IRL founder Tony George and
     Long's "overall lack of racing knowledge may have been the
     nail in his coffin."  Mehl gives George's series "its first
     credible leader and more importantly, someone who eventually
     might be able to pull CART and George back together for the
     Indy 500" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS, 12/8).  Long will be a
     consultant to Andy Evans, new owner of the Int'l Motor
     Speedway Association (Shav Glick, L.A. TIMES, 12/8).