Auto racing briefs for Sept. 22, 2005

Thursday, Sept. 22, 2005 | 9:08 a.m.

Phony bids delay online auction

A helmet Robby Gordon threw at fellow racer Michael Waltrip was relisted on an Internet auction site Wednesday night after being pulled on concern about the legitimacy of bids that topped $12 million.

Gordon put the helmet up for sale two days earlier on eBay Inc.'s site with a floor price of $1,000 in an auction to raise money for a Hurricane Katrina relief fund. The helmet's sale was pulled briefly Wednesday after more than 350 bids pushed the price to more than $12 million, almost three times the biggest sale on eBay -- a Gulfstream II business jet for $4.9 million in 2001.

Officials also became suspicious because the receiving charity -- Harrah's Employee Relief Fund -- wasn't on eBay's approved list.

A total of 46 bids, starting at $5,000, were submitted in the first two hours after the helmet was relisted at 7 p.m. The top bid was $44,544. The auction ends Sept. 24.

Indianapolis tire dispute settled

A Formula One race is scheduled for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the seventh consecutive year in 2006 after tire safety concerns led all but six cars to pull out of this year's event and put its future in doubt.

The 2006 U.S. Grand Prix will be held July 2 at the 13-turn, 2.605-mile circuit, the speedway said on its Web site. The race has been the only U.S. stop on the schedule of Formula One, the world's most-watched auto-racing competition.

"Despite the events that took place during this year's USGP and the cloud that lingered over the race, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway staff never stopped working on 2006 and promoting Formula One racing in the U.S.," Speedway President and Chief Operating Officer Joie Chitwood said in a statement.

O'Reilly Nationals postponed by Rita

The National Hot Rod Association announced Wednesday that it has postponed the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals, scheduled for this weekend in Ennis, Texas, due to the projected path of Hurricane Rita as issued by the National Weather Service.

The race has been rescheduled for Oct. 6-9, according to NHRA president Tom Compton.

"On the heels of Hurricane Katrina, and the devastation caused by that system, NHRA feels it necessary to be extra cautious given the forecasted path for Hurricane Rita," Compton said. "We feel it is best to reschedule the event for our fans, the racing community and our sponsors.

"At this time, it is important we stay out of harm's way and allow those that might be affected by Hurricane Rita to take care of more important issues at hand."

-- Sun wire services