Sports briefs for October 26, 2004

Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2004 | 10:44 a.m.

Rival racing league to challenge F-1

Four top carmakers plan to split from Formula One and launch a rival open-wheel Grand Prix racing series by 2008.

The group -- which includes BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Ferrari and Renault, and is known collectively as the Grand Prix World Championship consortium -- made the announcement today in London. They had been seeking a bigger share of F1's revenues and said the new series will "maintain the strengths of Formula One, while eliminating its weaknesses."

GPWC was formed in 2001 and since then has been pushing for a bigger share of F1's estimated annual income of $810 million.

The carmakers had previously threatened to establish a rival series starting in 2007, then called off the plans after a preliminary deal was reached with F1's commercial arm in December 2003.

But GPWC accused the F1 agency of failing to comply with the terms of the agreement. The group broke off talks in April and resumed plans for its own circuit.

Robert Merrill dies

Opera singer Robert Merrill, once described by Time magazine as "one of the Met's best baritones" but equally familiar to baseball fans for his season-opening rendition of the national anthem at Yankees games -- a tradition that began in 1969 -- died at his home in suburban New York. He was 87.

Carney honored

UNLV's Katie Carney was named the Mountain West Conference's co-offensive player of the week.

Ex-Giant sentenced

Former Michigan State and New York Giants wide receiver Mark Ingram was sentenced to one year in jail for stealing a credit card at a Michigan golf course. Ingram, 39, is being held in federal prison on a parole violation, which followed a six-month prison term for possesing counterfeit bills.

New deal for Brey

Notre Dame gave men's coach Mike Brey a two-year contract extension through the 2010-11 season. It is his second two-year extension since signing his original seven-year contract in July 2000.

Radcliffe will run

Paula Radcliffe of England, the world-record holder in the women's marathon whose Olympic chances ended with a tear-filled dropout in Athens, will enter the New York City Marathon on Nov. 7.

Devils' Gomez to ECHL

New Jersey Devils center Scott Gomez signed a $500-a-week contract with the Alaska Aces of the ECHL for the duration of the NHL lockout.