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Spencer sues Ganassi over sabotage charges

DAYTONA BEACH -- Jimmy Spencer has filed a breach of contract suit against car owner Chip Ganassi, who fired Spencer at the end of last season. The suit also accuses his former boss of sabotaging his racing career.

Spencer is seeking $600,000, the difference between the salary he would have made driving for Ganassi this season and what he is due to make this year driving for Ultra Motorsports.

Ganassi, who saw the suit Friday, said it's "without merit."

Spencer, signed at the end of the 2001 season to what was believed to be a three-year deal, filed the suit Tuesday in Mecklenburg (N.C.) County Superior Court. Casey Mears will drive the car this season.

Spencer alleges in the suit that Ganassi harmed his Busch series deal with car owner James Finch, for whom Spencer drove 23 races last season. Ganassi is assisting Finch this season, and the lawsuit claims the terms of that agreement required Finch not employ Spencer.

WINTERNATIONALS: Pro Stock's top qualifying position remained in the Coughlin family at the season-opening NHRA event in Pomona, Calif. Jeg Coughlin took over as the No. 1 qualifier after the second of four sessions, bumping brother Troy. Jeg made a 6.790-second pass at 203.22 mph. Clay Millican turned in career-best numbers, a 4.522 run at 326.79 in Top Fuel, and Tim Wilkerson stayed at the top of Funny Car with his 4.759 at 318.32 from Thursday.

FORMULA ONE: Series champion Michael Schumacher and Ferrari chairman Luca Di Montezemolo unveiled the team's new car, the F2003-GA, in Maranello, Italy.

OBITUARY: Les Griebling, 78, founder and designer of the course used for the annual CART Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio, died Thursday at Manatee Hospital in Bradenton. Griebling opened the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, 50 miles north of Columbus, in 1962 and sold it in '81.

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