Columnist Ron Kantowski: LV still in lead to nab CART operations

Tuesday, June 5, 2001 | 10:47 a.m.

Ron Kantowski's notes column appears Tuesday. Reach him at ron@lasvegassun.com or 259-4088.

While it showed the Indy Racing League at last week's Indianapolis 500 that it was no Mickey Mouse operation, there's at least a chance Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) literally could become one.

According to the Detroit News, CART officials are talking with the Walt Disney Co., DreamWorks SKG and AOL Time Warner Inc., about the possibility of building a CART museum and/or themed attraction.

That means Orlando, Fla., has joined Las Vegas as a leading candidate to serve as CART's new corporate home, if and when North America's top open-wheel auto racing series decides to depart its current digs in Troy, Mich.

The museum would be one way for CART to keep its racers in the public eye after the season ends in early November.

"NASCAR's headquarters is Daytona Beach, where they have a museum (and) extensive merchandising and entertainment," said CART CEO Joe Heitzler. "I've talked to several of my counterparts there, and it represents a significant increase in their revenues."

Heitzer said he is going to recommend to his board of directors three possible headquarters sites: Las Vegas, Orlando and Detroit.

Still, insiders say Las Vegas has a full straightaway lead, if for no other reason that while CART and the Disney folks are only chatting about a partnership, Nevada already has stepped up and passed legislation that will give Nevada-based CART teams a tax break on engines and chassis.

In addition, CART board member, team owner and chief stockholder Gerald Forsythe reportedly is leaning toward Las Vegas, and Heitzler spent a lot of time here recently campaigning for the tax break.

"Thirty-eight million people a year go to Las Vegas," Heitzler said, sounding as impressed as the racing world was last week when CART drivers swept the first five spots at Indy.

And there may be reciprocal interest from local fans, based on last week's TV ratings. The Indy 500, buoyed by the return of several high-profile CART teams and drivers, drew a 7.8 rating in Las Vegas, significantly higher than the national number of 5.3. NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600, which aired later in the day, did only a 3.9 in Las Vegas.

Franchione told the group that his goal was to win a national championship.

"Just one?" asked a concerned booster.

Not Bear Bryant, who Alabama fans think is God, but God himself.

Butler reneged on his commitment to play for Air Force to sign with Charleston Southern University, an NCAA Division I-AA Baptist college in South Carolina.

"It was a weird deal, but God worked it out," Butler told the Abilene (Texas) Reporter-News. "I realized the accomplishments God has given me in football. I feel like I owed it to Him to give up Division I. I felt like he would bless me more for that."

You can't exactly call that negative recruiting. Well, I guess you could, but I wouldn't say it too loudly.

However, those moves will remain legal at Madonna concerts.