Flash.(Briefs)

Ford drops Duval

Ford Motor Co. released FIA World Rally driver Francois Duval from his contract to drive for the team in the 2005 season. The 23-year-old Belgian has driven for Ford in the WRC since the beginning of 2003 and will stay on until the end of the year. Ford is undecided about whether it will run the WRC in 2005.

Grand-Am race delayed

Hurricane Frances has forced The Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series Miami 250 to be rescheduled. The Sept. 10-12 event at Homestead-Miami Speedway was postponed one week due to the state of emergency in Florida. The Miami 250 race weekend, featuring the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, the Grand-Am Cup and the Formula Renault 2000 Series, will now run Sept. 17-19.

Dallara to F1?

Dallara Automobili, the Italian race car manufacturer, says it is well advanced in designing a new Formula One chassis that will be ready for track-testing early in 2005. The project is being funded by an undisclosed investor who is understood to be preparing to form a new team for the 2006 season. The prolific Italian rumor mill suggests a deal is done for its cars to be powered by semi-works Ferrari engines, badged Maserati. Dallara supplies nine of the 14 Indy Racing League teams and enjoys a monopoly in Formula 3 worldwide. It has also had several F1 developments in the past, most recently when it built the Honda Racing Development test chassis five years ago.

Jordan sale update