In Indianapolis, Curt Cavin notes IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard "changed his mind on how many cars can start" races this season. Two weeks after "capping the field at 26 cars at most venues, the CEO sees the downside to sending home slower teams." Any competitor who "meets the minimum speed requirement in qualifying will be allowed to race, although those beyond 26 won't be paid by the series." Bernard said, "It's one thing to lose the money; it's another thing to embarrass a sponsor or upset a sponsor." IndyCar had five races last year with more than 26 cars (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 3/23).
WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR: In Miami, Linda Robertson writes under the header, "Women's Tennis Is In Weakened State." Since February '04, the world No. 1 ranking "has changed hands 26 times among 10 women," and when Caroline Wozniacki "first ascended to No. 1 on Oct. 11, she was the fourth player in a row to capture it for the first time without winning a Grand Slam singles title." Robertson writes, "The ranking situation mirrors the weakened state of women’s tennis, which is in search of a queen." Wozniacki makes a "pleasant new No. 1," but what women's tennis needs with Serena Williams sidelined and Kim Clijsters "planning to retire in 2012, is a dynamic new star" (MIAMI HERALD, 3/23).
PRICE LIKE A CHAMPION: UEFA has ruled out "any change to the ticket prices for the Champions League final" at London's Wembley Stadium in May, despite UEFA President Michel Platini "admitting they were too expensive." The least-expensive ticket on public sale for the May 28 game will be US$244, plus a US$42 booking fee, and Platini said that "family tickets should be half the price they are on sale for." But UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino said, "The ticket prices for Wembley will not change -- the ticket sales have already started and the president expressed his opinion about that" (PA, 3/21).
