SPONSORS TAKE SIDES AS CART/IRL AIM TO ATTRACT MORE FANS

          With the 81st running of the Indianapolis 500, Bill
     Koenig of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS examined the sponsor
     support of both the IRL and CART.  Companies with "long-time
     ties" to motorsports like Mercedes-Benz and Marlboro "have,
     for the most part, stuck with" CART rather than the IRL and
     the Indianapolis 500.  Replacing them at Indy are Contour
     Hardening, Cinergy, Old Navy and Fastlane Footware,
     companies which have been "attracted by bargain prices,
     allowing them to become an IRL car sponsor for as low as
     $50,000" -- a figure that "wouldn't go nearly as far in the
     more-established CART series."  MI-based Fastlane Footware
     signed on as "official footware supplier" to the IRL and
     also agreed to post prize money for the fastest lap run
     during each IRL race.  Fastlane CEO John Lefere estimated it
     will invest $300,000-400,000 in the program over three years
     (INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS, 5/26).