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Some time ago the FIA asked Formula 1 teams to accept rules which rev-limited V10 engines. The federation argued that this would slow the cars and cut costs. As early as 1996 FIA President Max Mosley proposed an engine rev limiter to be introduced in 2001. The teams argued that Formula 1 is all about performance and pushing the limits. It seemed that Mosley had given up when last year he announced that there would be 2.4-litre V8 engines in 2006 to reduce power and costs. Mosley added that "in order not to prejudice the smaller independent teams" the existing 3-litre V10 engines would be allowed to continue in 2006 and 2007 "subject to a restriction on revs to be determined by the FIA".

The teams were finally forced to accept this change, although several were strongly opposed to the V8 idea.

And so, in theory at least, we will see a 2.4-litre V8 engine formula in 2006 and all the major F1 teams are working on the development of the new V8s. Only Squadra Toro Rosso (aka Minardi) is planning to go into the new season with a rev-limited V10. The stated FIA plan was that "the rev limit will be set at a level which will ensure that the engine is less powerful - but not much less powerful - than the 2.4s."

In recent months, however, it has been clear that the V8s will not be very powerful and, more importantly, will have less robust rev ranges than the restricted V10s and there are some who believe that the rev-limited V10 engine could actually be a better package because with the two-race engine rule revs have been reduced anyway. There has been a lot of talk recently of changing the equivalency factor but if it remains the same we are likely to see teams begin to realise that the V8 is not the way to go and switch to rev-limited V10s instead. There is a precedent in all this as Honda decided in 1988 that rather than switch to new normally-aspirated 3.5-litre engines it would maximise the performance of the older turbos despite a boost pressure cut from 4 to 2.5 bar and a fuel tank capacity reduced from 195 to 150 litres. The result was a dominant car which won 15 of the 16 races.

So be prepared, we may end up with a field full of rev-limited V10s next year.

When you stop to think about it, this is what the FIA wanted all along and all that the manufacturers will end up with are expensive V8s which will be thrown on the scrap heap. Once teams have accepted rev limits, the FIA would then be able to control engine power quite simply by lowering the rev-limits from one year to the next, particularly if the V8 rules were later scrapped. And once the revs are low there would be little opposition to regulations demanding engines which last for six races.

Owning no less than two formula one teams, Red Bull has decided to scrap its 'search for an American F1 driver' programme. Four years into the search, a Monday statement said the programme had 'successfully placed' an American at the pinnacle of racing -- Scott Speed. ''With its primary goal complete,'' the statement read, ''the Driver Search will not continue to operate in its current format for 2006.'' Red Bull's 'search' programme started in 2002.

NBC won't extend its contract with NASCAR beyond the 2006 season, a person involved in the negotiations told The Associated Press on Friday.

ABC/ESPN are expected to replace NBC as one of NASCAR's television partners, according to a television executive who declined to be identified because the deal wasn't complete.

NBC currently splits half of NASCAR's 36-race schedule with Fox as part of a six-year, $2.8 billion deal that began in 2001. The contract expires at the end of next season and NBC informed NASCAR last week that it didn't want to extend the relationship because the value the network put on the package was far less than the asking price.

Alana Russo, a spokesperson for NBC Sports, said the network had no comment.

Fox Sports is negotiating to retain its rights to the first half of the season, and ABC/ESPN are also in contract talks. TNT, which airs a portion of races during NBC's share of the schedule, also wants to remain involved.

"We are in the middle of contract negotiations right now and we have nothing to announce at this time," NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said. "But it is no secret that ABC/ESPN has expressed a strong interest in being a part of the television negotiations and we are continuing those talks."

NASCAR's current television package was a landmark deal for the stock-car series. Before reaching the agreement with NBC and Fox in late 1999, NASCAR had received just $3 million for the TV rights to 28 races.

ABC/ESPN and CBS were left out of the last deal after decades of being the lone networks to broadcast any NASCAR events. CBS televised the Daytona 500 from 1979 until 2000, while ESPN broadcast many races and magazine-style shows.

Not long after losing the rights, ESPN folded "RPM Tonight," one of the network's longtime staples. The network then became embroiled in a battle with NASCAR over filming footage on track property.

Prohibited from bringing cameras into the track, ESPN reporters had to scramble to get drivers at airports and helipads after races from 2001 through 2003, when the dispute was resolved.

Now the network will be back with full access to a sport that tinkered with its rules partly to generate increased television ratings. NASCAR is in the second year of its Chase for the championship, a 10-race shootout that decides the Nextel Cup winner.

The playoff system was created to raise interest in the title hunt and boost TV numbers during the second-half of the season, when NASCAR is up against NFL football every Sunday.

NASCAR officials were so concerned with the rash of blown tires Saturday at Lowe's Motor Speedway that they contemplated calling the event early due to competitor mechanical problems for the first time in the sport's history. "I cannot remember a precedent," NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said. "I think that was a first."

Hunter said discussion of a cancellation began near the midway point of the UAW-GM Quality 500. But president Mike Helton instead opted to send pit road inspectors to the teams' pit stalls to send warning that NASCAR would gauge their tire pressures, and if those pressures failed to comply with NASCAR specifications the teams would be subject to penalty -- including points deductions. "There was serious discussion about stopping the race, period," Hunter said. Helton reiterated Hunter's statement, saying the night's uncharacteristic circumstances warranted uncharacteristic response. "In the best interest to finish this event as correctly as it could, we took that step, which was more unusual than we've done in the past," Helton said. "But the evening itself was more unusual than it's ever been." Helton said no teams face points penalties and NASCAR planned no further reaction. "We talked about a lot of options, and the enforcing of the recommended air pressure was the one we come up with the try to get through the evening, but certainly we talked about the option of having to shorten the race," Helton said.