WILL RED BULL RUN HONDAS?(briefs)(Automobile Club de l'Ouest)(Red Bull Racing)

Following Sauber's apparent decision not to renew its contract with Ferrari but to switch to BMW beginning in 2006, at least one other Formula One team is seeking a subsidized deal with a manufacturer for 2.4-liter V8 engines. Red Bull Racing is widely reported to be negotiating with Honda, which, in common with all its rival engine suppliers except Ferrari, has committed to supplying "affordable'' engines to a second team if asked to do so.

Red Bull Racing owner Dietrich Mateschitz reportedly has contacted Honda about engines for next season. For 2005, Cosworth, the independent supplier that is also working with Minardi this season, is understood to be charging Mateschitz as much as $20 million for its V10 engines.

Honda F1 project leader Takeo Kiuchi said, "Some teams are interested in having our engines next year and I know they have approached our president on this matter.'' Kiuchi said he can see Honda supplying a second team next year, and, "It is in the best interests of the sport and as a means to support the independent teams.'' Kiuchi's remarks strongly imply Honda has also been approached by new teams intending to enter F1 next year.

Will it or won't it?

The controversial Maserati MC12 is expected to race in the American Le Mans Series opener at Sebring on March 19, despite renewed pressure from the Le Mans organizers and Aston Martin.

The Automobile Club de l'Ouest at Le Mans has strongly protested the American Le Mans Series' decision to allow the MC12 to run at Sebring even though it doesn't conform to ACO rules. Top ACO officials said they will boycott Sebring (the jewel in the crown of the ALMS, which licenses its name and rules from the ACO).

At the same time, the Prodrive-run factory Aston Martin team went public on what has been a long-running campaign: to prevent the Maserati from competing in the ALMS until Maserati builds the narrower car that the ACO demands to meet the rules.