Motorsports

FIA head Mosley reelected

ROME - Max Mosley was re-elected Friday as president of the International Automobile Federation that oversees Formula One racing.

His election to a fourth term came at a meeting of the FIA general assembly.

The move came two days after F1 officials approved a new qualifying format for next season and authorized the reintroduction of tire changes.

Under the new format approved by the FIA's World Motor Sport Council, qualifying will be held in three phases. The five slowest cars will drop out after the first 15 minutes, and five more will depart after the next 15. The remaining cars will compete in a 20-minute session for the top spots on the grid.

Single-lap qualifying was used this season. Qualifying has been changed regularly in recent seasons, an effort to give smaller teams more TV time and shake up the starting grid.

In another effort to give smaller teams a chance, tire changes were outlawed in 2005 except in rare cases. Next season, teams will be able to change tires as often as they choose.

Also, next season will start March 12 in Bahrain. Australia, the opener since 1996, will be the third event, April 2, to avoid a conflict with the Commonwealth Games from March 15-26 in Melbourne. The United States Grand Prix in Indianapolis is July 2.

IROC: Road racer Scott Pruett will start on the pole for today's International Race of Champions season closer at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Nextel Cup veteran Mark Martin, a four-time series champion who owns the series record with 12 victories, will clinch the title by starting.

[Last modified October 29, 2005, 01:45:21]