Flash.(Briefs)

Zanardi tests

Former CART champion and F1 driver Alex Zanardi, 40, returned to an F1 cockpit during the Formula BMW World Final weekend at Valencia. Zanardi, who nearly died and lost both legs in an accident at the Lausitzring in Germany in 2001, became the first double-amputee to drive an F1 car with hand controls. He was forced to switch to smaller artificial feet to get his legs to fit in the BMW-Sauber's cramped cockpit. "I'm the only driver on earth who can do that,'' he said.

Zanardi set a best time of 1:19.7. Briton Anthony Davidson holds the lap record, 1:08.54, set during a Honda F1 test in March.

Home run for Roush

Roush Racing and Fenway Sports Group are close to an agreement that will make the Boston-based baseball organization part-owner of the Detroit-based racing organization. Roush Racing president Geoff Smith says the major points have been settled and the rest should be done by Speed Week in Daytona Beach in February. Roush will not relinquish control of his team but is willing to take on FSG as an equal partner.

Rudd surfaces

Former Robert Yates Racing driver Ricky Rudd might return to drive RYR's No. 88 Ford next year. Yates says he has sponsorship in place and a pool of drivers from which to choose, but Rudd or Johnny Sauter seem the most likely candidates. One report has Sauter driving a second Chevrolet for Haas Racing (teaming with Jeff Green), but another report says Sauter has the inside ...