F1 group collapses
The group which acts on behalf of Formula One teams was disbanded Friday because of financial issues, likely giving more control of the sport’s future to Bernie Ecclestone.
The Formula One Teams’ Association was established six years ago to safeguard interests at the onset of the global financial crisis, and ensure the teams were unified in negotiations with Ecclestone and governing body FIA.
But FOTA began to fracture in 2011 when leading teams, including Ferrari and Red Bull, quit in a dispute about cost reduction moves within motor racing’s premier sport.
Now FOTA has collapsed completely over unpaid subscription fees and a failure to strike an agreement with all 11 teams after only seven were formal members for the 2013 championship, secretary general Oliver Weingarten.
Ecclestone, F1’s long-time commercial head who is facing trial in Germany in April over an alleged bribe, stands to benefit most from FOTA dissolving despite his own power being diluted slightly over his legal problems.
More auto racing
Panther Racing sued Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, IndyCar and others, saying it lost a $17.2 million sponsorship with the Army National Guard because of bid-rigging and other improprieties.
Tennis
Third-seeded Roger Federer ended top-seeded Novak Djokovic’s chance of defending his Dubai Championships title with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 semifinal win. Federer will be looking for his sixth Dubai title when he plays third-seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic today in the final. Federer now leads Djokovic 17-15 in their career head-to-head meetings. Sixth-seeded Berdych reached his second consecutive Dubai final with a tough 7-5, 7-5 semifinal win over seventh-seeded Philiipp Kohlschreiber of Germany.
Iditarod
The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race across Alaska kicks off today after warm winter weather nearly prompted officials to move the start hundreds of miles north to Fairbanks for the first time in a decade. Temperatures have dropped, improving trail conditions and allowing the 42nd running of the world’s most famous sled dog race to start as normal in Willow, about 50 miles north of Anchorage. The ceremonial start, with a festival-type atmosphere, begins today in downtown Anchorage. Mushers will take a leisurely 11-mile jaunt on sled dog trails within the state’s largest city. On Sunday, the 1,000-mile race turns serious as mushers drive their dogs to Willow for the official restart. Sixtynine racers are expected.
Soccer
Soccer’s governing body in Cyprus postponed all first division matches this weekend after a bombing damaged the car of a top referee in the country. The move comes ahead of an exhibition game between the United States and Ukraine next Wednesday that was moved from Kharkiv because of violence in Ukraine. Police said an explosive device was placed on the hood of referee Leontios Trattos’ car and it exploded in a parking lot outside his apartment in a Nicosia suburb. No one was injured, but his car and another vehicle were damaged.
Kevon Carter died of a suspected heart attack after training with his club team in Macqueripe. He was 30.
Skiing
Olympic champion Kjetil Jansrud of Norway mastered difficult racing conditions on his favorite home slope in Kvitfjell to share a World Cup downhill win with Georg Streitberger of Austria at 1:05.72. American Travis Ganong finished 0.12 behind in third for his maiden career podium, following a fifth-place finish at Sochi.
College Hockey
Robert Morris (13-15-5, 13-8-5) skated to a 5-5 tie at Mercyhurst (18-12-7, 16-4-6) in Atlantic Hockey Association action. With the point, the Colonials pulled into a fourth-place tie with Air Force with only the rematch against Mercyhurst tonight remaining on their schedule. The top four teams in the AHA receive first-round byes in the tournament. The Colonials’ Cody Wydo scored his 22nd goal this season, tying him for the single-season program record.