Flash.(Briefs)(Hemelgarn Racing, PDM Racing)(Arden International, Federation Internationale de l'Automobile)

No Hemelgarn?

The look of the Indianapolis 500 will change this year if for no other reason than it will be missing Hemelgarn Racing, winner of the Indy Racing League's inaugural Indianapolis Motor Speedway event in 1996.

Hemelgarn officials confirmed that sponsorship has been difficult to come by and to stay in business as a racing operation, the Indianapolis-based team will likely move to the Champ Car series perhaps as soon as the June race in Milwaukee. Ron Hemelgarn's team won't bring along 500 winner and 2000 IRL champ Buddy Lazier, however. Lazier is looking for a ride at the Speedway.

"We're in survival mode,'' team manager Lee Kunzman said. "We've got to do what we can to keep our guys working, and if that means switching [to Champ Car], then that's what we've got to do.'' Hemelgarn Racing, which started in 1984 when Hemelgarn bought the Primus team, has fielded many entries in the 500, most with Lazier. It also fielded Stephan Gregoire in the IRL's inaugural season and is responsible for bringing Australian Brad Murphey to the series in 1996. Other former drivers for the team include Gordon Johncock and the late Billy Vukovich III, Scott Brayton and Stan Fox.

And maybe no PDM

Another of the IRL's first teams, PDM Racing, is also on the verge of missing the 500. Team owner Paul Diatlovich didn't have a sponsor at our deadline. Missing the race would end a string of eight straight 500s for PDM.

The absence of Hemelgarn and PDM left the 500 with just 28 car-and-driver combinations. A couple of teams have said they will be willing to become the event's 33rd entry, but they have no interest in being No. 29 or 30. In ...