GM's announcement yesterday that it would "phase out" its Oldsmobile brand over the next few years will have "no immediate impact, if any," on the IRL Northern Light Series, according to Robin Miller of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. Oldsmobile's Aurora engine has "powered the past four" IRL champions and Indy 500 winners and is "used by all but two" IRL teams. GM Motorsports IRL Program Dir Joe Negri said GM is "committed to the IRL ... We're signed up for the IRL and I don't see any changes in that" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 12/13). NEW LOOK FOR RAINBOW CAR: The Hendrick Motorsports- owned No. 24 Winston Cup DuPont Chevrolet driven by Jeff Gordon has "changed its look for the first time" since its inception in '92. The car's quarterpanels now says "DuPont," and the deck lid features the company's slogan, "The miracles of science" (ThatsRacin.com, 12/12). ESPN's Kenny Mayne, on Gordon's new paint scheme: "A ninth-place season finish was something of a letdown given how well Jeff Gordon usually performs. So he's trying to hide his identity in 2001 by riding in a car with a new paint job. ... The new design emphasizes fire and flames, which could confuse communications if the spotter were to tell Gordon he's on fire. That could be taken to mean he needs to get out of the car immediately, or he's doing really well, or Dupont sure can slap on some paint" ("SportsCenter," 12/12).
