By Compiled from Times wires
Published May 21, 2003
CONCORD, N.C. - Bill Elliott will race in Sunday night's Coca-Cola 600 with a broken left foot. It's up to his crew to figure out how to keep him comfortable through the longest NASCAR race of the season.
Elliott, 47, broke three bones on the top of his foot, which operates the clutch and brake, in Saturday night's all-star race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. He went to Indianapolis on Tuesday to meet with Dr. Terry Trammell, chief orthopedic consultant for the Champ Car series, to get fitted for a carbon fiber foot protector and brace to use when he races.
Crew chief Mike Ford said he would adjust the brake pedal on the No. 9 Dodge to make it softer and easier for Elliott to use.
Elliott was using crutches Monday when he donated $10,000 to the library at his son's school.
"I survived 600 kids walking around me and I was okay, so think I can deal with this inconvenience this weekend," Elliott said.
Car owner Ray Evernham said Truck Series driver Ted Musgrave could fill in this weekend if Elliott isn't up to driving.
CART-IRL CRASH: CART and the Indy Racing League have found something new to fight about. Three of five CART panelists withdrew from a two-day open-wheel racing summit in Indianapolis after questioning the forum's objectivity. CART officials also were put off by the location, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which is owned by the family of IRL founder Tony George, the key player in the CART-IRL split in 1996. The summit was focused on improving the image of open-wheel racing amid a poor economy and the rapid growth in popularity of NASCAR. Topics included how to attract more sponsors and fans and increase television viewership.
TENNIS: Serena, Hewitt top seeds
Serena Williams and Lleyton Hewitt were named top seeds for the French Open, which starts Monday. Williams, who started her "Serena Slam" with a victory in the French last year, is followed by Kim Clijsters, Venus Williams, Justine Henin-Hardenne and Amelie Mauresmo. Hewitt, who has never won the French, is followed by Andre Agassi, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Carlos Moya and Roger Federer.
U.S. FALLS TO AUSTRALIA: Hewitt helped Australia beat the United States 3-0 at the World Team Cup in Duesseldorf, Germany. Hewitt defeated Tampa's James Blake 6-3, 6-3, Wayne Arthurs edged Todd Martin 7-6 (7-4), 7-5, and Arthurs and Todd Reid topped Blake and Graydon Oliver 6-4, 6-2 in doubles.
HONORS: Armstrong, Serena No. 1
Four-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong was named World Sportsman of the Year at the Laureus awards in Monaco and Brazilian soccer player Ronaldo became the first person to win two titles in the same year. Ronaldo got the Comeback of the Year award for leading the scoring at last year's World Cup following two years of knee injuries, and World Cup winner Brazil was named Team of the Year. Tennis' Serena Williams picked up the top women's award. Also honored were climber Dean Potter, Alternative Sportsman of the Year; NBA rookie Yao Ming, Newcomer of the Year; Australian skier Michael Milton, Sportsperson of the Year With a Disability; golfer Gary Player, Lifetime Achievement Award, and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sport for Good Award for his work with the Special Olympics. Laureas is the only worldwide ceremony honoring athletes from all sports.
ET CETERA
BOXING: Alexander Miroshnichenko, the super-heavyweight bronze medalist at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, died after apparently falling nine floors at his apartment building in Almaty, Kazakhstan. He was 38. Police said the death appeared to be accidental but an investigation was ongoing.
CYCLING: Norway's Kurt Asle Arvesen won the 10th stage of the Giro d'Italia, finishing the 125.2-mile ride from Montecatini Terme to Faenza in 5 hours, 34 minutes, 23 seconds. Italy's Gilberto Simoni took the pink jersey from Stefano Garzello as overall leader by two seconds.
