With its name change on Friday from the Int'l Motor
Sports Association to Professional SportsCar Racing --
SportsCar for short -- "the enigmatic racing entity attempts
to forge a household identity on par with NASCAR and CART,"
according to Mike Dame of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. Andy Evans,
SportsCar's Chair of the Board of Dir: "This is a five-to 10-
year project. Don't expect miracles overnight, but we will
get better with the little things and the big things."
SPORTSCAR BRINGS IN A BIG HITTER: Former NFL All-Pro
safety Ronnie Lott was among those introduced as members of
SportsCar's Board of Directors, and Dame notes that he "will
lead an effort to attract younger fans." Also, an expanded
TV package with Speedvision through 2001 was unveiled, and
Evans said a deal with Fox Sports to air three or four races
live each season "also is close to being finalized." Exxon
Motorsports Manager Richard Bowen: "Being a part of IMSA for
six years, we were always a big fish in a small pond. Now
the pond seems to be growing. I feel like now we're going to
start seeing some payoff" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 3/15).