Flash.(Automobile industry news.)

Getting help

The most unlikely rumor to surface at the CART race in Milwaukee has Chevrolet contracting Cosworth Racing, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Co., for assistance with its struggling Indy Racing League engine program. Chevrolets haven't won an IRL race yet this season, and were not competitive with the Toyotas and Hondas at the Indy 500. GM sources said the company is talking to Cosworth and "other suppliers'' looking for help, including Menard Cheever Technologies.

CART in Russia?

Could CART beat Formula One into Russia? CART team owner Emerson Fittipaldi went from the EuroSpeedway in Germany (AW, May 19) to St. Petersburg, Russia, where he discussed the possibility of a new race with civic officials. "It would be wonderful to organize a race around the city streets,'' he said. "It would be a great advertisement for the city and bring many tourists from Europe and America.'' Fittipaldi said there would be no shortage of sites for a race in the historic city, and he saw no reason why it should not go ahead. About 15 miles south of the city center, building has begun of the state-funded Pulkovoring circuit, favored as the venue for an F1 Russian Grand Prix in 2004 or 2005. Russian president Vladimir Putin approved the construction project in May 2002. The location is near Pulkovo International Airport in an area recently designated as an economic development zone.

Bahrain moved up?

There has been more speculation the first Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix will take place in ...