DaimlerChrysler wins judgment against Bill Davis Racing.(for breach of contract)

DaimlerChrysler won a $6.5 million breach of contract judgment against Bill Davis Racing in U.S. federal court in Detroit. A jury sided with DCX, which accused BDR of passing confidential Dodge information to Toyota while helping the manufacturer develop its Tundra for the Craftsman Truck Series. BDR denied it, and countersued for $8.5 million to $9.8 million for breach of contract. U.S. District Judge George Steeh gave the North Carolina-based team three weeks to submit post-trial documents, which could include a request to set aside the verdict.

In a statement, team owner Bill Davis said he disagreed with the outcome and planned to ask the Court to set it aside. "If necessary, we intend to appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit,'' he said.

If the verdict stands, it is generally thought Toyota will pick up at least a major portion of the judgment.

Human error blamed for Hendrick plane crash

The National Transportation Safety Board says flight-crew error caused the crash of the Hendrick Motorsports plane that killed 10 people near Martinsville Speedway in October 2004.

The NTSB says the crew failed to properly execute the published instrument approach procedure to Blue Ridge Airport in Virginia. Investigators claim that navigational confusion involving GPS readings led the crew to approach the airport too high and descend to landing altitude well past the airport. Among those killed were the son, brother and two nieces of team owner Rick Hendrick, and longtime employee Randy Dorton.

Diane Dorton has sued Hendrick Motorsports over the death of her husband. She claims John Hendrick's desire to get to Martinsville may have contributed to the accident. Part of her negligence and misconduct lawsuit is based on an alleged conversation between pilot Richard Tracy and Hendrick.