By JENNA FRYER
AP Auto Racing Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- NASCAR has settled a $225 million lawsuit filed by a former official who said she was subjected to racial discrimination and sexual harassment during her two-plus years working for the stock-car organization. The suit was settled during a Dec. 3 mediation held in New York between Mauricia Grant and NASCAR. Settlement terms were confidential. Neither side admitted liability or wrongdoing, according to NASCAR.
"We're glad to have the case settled on mutually acceptable terms," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Thursday. "NASCAR remains dedicated to maintaining a professional work environment for all employees at all times, and we wish Ms. Grant well in her future endeavors."
Grant's attorney, Benedict P. Morelli of New York-based Morelli Ratner PC, did not immediately return a call from the AP for comment.
NASCAR settles $225 million suit with ex-official....
MILAN, Italy — Ferrari is planning to accelerate its cost-cutting plans for 2009 in the wake of Honda's pullout from Formula One.
"This process had already begun over the last few years. But now it's going to have a sharp acceleration," team director Stefano Domenicali said in an interview with Corriere della Sera on Monday without providing further financial details.
Still, Domenicali warned that cuts in F1 spending shouldn't reach the point where it wouldn't allow healthy engineering competition. Ferrari announced in October that it too would leave F1 if the sport's governing body goes ahead with plans to have a sole engine and transmission supplier beginning in 2010.
"We're at the forefront in the process of auto racing renewal, which has to remain a technological and sporting competition," Domenicali said. "Ferrari will continue to be a leader. The fans should stay calm."
Honda quit F1 on Friday, saying that in the current economic downturn it needs to focus on its core business of making and selling cars rather than spending $291 million a year to race them on Grand Prix tracks.
In three seasons, and with such massive investment, Honda managed just one race victory.
Ferrari - the oldest team in F1 - has won more than 200 races.
Ferrari Formula One team plans to accelerate cost-cutting....
PARIS (AFP) — Honda on Friday announced its shock withdrawal from Formula One raising fresh fears over the future of the multi-million dollar sport struggling to keep afloat in the current economic downturn.
Honda Motor president Takeo Fukui made the announcement at an emotional press conference in Tokyo, apologising to fans, staff, drivers and F1 authorities.
"This is a complete withdrawal. The future is a blank sheet," he said. "Five years from now, I think history will show we made the right decision."
The decision shocked the sport which had already seen backmarkers, and fellow Japanese team, Super Aguri go the wall earlier this year.
It also sparked new calls for the glamour sport to slash its mind-boggling budgets while the remaining Japanese team, Toyota, hurried out a statement pledging their future to the championship.
"This difficult decision has been made in light of the quickly deteriorating operating environment facing the global auto industry, brought on by the subprime problem in the United States," Fukui added.
Honda Racing CEO Nick Fry , however, said he was hopeful that new owners would be found in time for the team to be on the grid for the start of next season in Australia on March 29.
Formula One: Honda exit casts cloud over F1 future....
By Bill Marx
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Jimmie Johnson, the second driver to win three consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup championships, is Sporting News' driver of the year, the magazine announced Tuesday.
Johnson finished the 2008 season 69 points ahead of Carl Edwards to join Cale Yarborough as the only drivers to win three consecutive championships in NASCAR's premier division.
Johnson drives for Hendrick Motorsports, and the organization won three of the five annual Sporting News awards. Rick Hendrick is owner of the year, and Chad Knaus is crew chief of the year. Knaus became the first crew chief to win three consecutive championships.
Johnson is Sporting News' driver of the year....
