Racing League Notes: Detail Around New NASCAR Points System

“It’s On,” Says Bernie Ecclestone Of The French Grand Prix

In Columbia, SC, David Newton cited NASCAR sources who said that under the new Nextel Cup points format, which will be unveiled tomorrow, the "top 10 drivers in points and anyone within 400 points of the lead after 26 races will compete for the Nextel Cup title in the final 10 races." The new system "will include giving the leader at 26 races about 100 points, ... with the other drivers given points in decreasing increments" (Columbia STATE, 1/17).

F1: The French Grand Prix will be run in '04, meaning there will be an all-time high 18 races on the Formula One schedule. The race was listed as provisional on F1's original '04 schedule (REUTERS, 1/17).

CART: In St. Petersburg, Brant James noted Open Wheel Racing Series, which is trying to buy CART, "long has expressed a desire to merge with the IRL." But McAlpine & Associates analyst Dennis McAlpine said that IRL's bid for CART's assets "could be a sign that the IRL has no such intentions." McAlpine: "There is nothing to be gained by merging. From their point of (view), they can push up the price Open Wheel has to pay and sit back and wait for it to collapse and pick up the pieces" (ST. PETE TIMES, 1/17). G.I. Joe's President Norm Daniels said that his company, a 20-year sponsor of CART's race in Portland, "will not pledge money" to the tentative '04 CART race in the city. Daniels: "We will look at a CART sponsorship if and when there is a firm commitment to come to Portland, and if the new national sponsor (OWRS) is a compatible partner with G.I. Joe's" (PORTLAND TRIBUNE, 1/16).