Flash.(Briefs)

Nice try

Yu Zhifei, general manager of the Shanghai International Circuit that hosts Formula One, was fired for alleged involvement in a corruption scandal. He is implicated in an investigation into the misuse of $390 million of the city's social security fund, described by the Shanghai Daily newspaper as the biggest corruption case in Shanghai since economic reforms were introduced 20 years ago.

No F1 for Audi, Ford

FIA president Max Mosley explained why he included Audi and Ford among the F1 manufacturers that received an FIA document about future "green'' and industry-relevant technical regulations (Competition, May 28).

"There's no suggestion that either of those companies will come into Formula One,'' Mosley said. "But if we can involve two or even more [nonparticipating] manufacturers at board level, their input could be very helpful, because they're disinterested about the technologies we should incorporate. They've promised to do the best they can to help us.''

Kristensen questionable

Doctors have not yet cleared seven-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen to compete in this year's 24-hour race. The Audi driver is recovering from injuries sustained in the German DTM series opener at Hockenheim in April. He missed the DTM's Eurospeedway Lausitz round in late May after complaining of continuing dizzy spells. Mattias Ekstrom has been put on standby to replace Kristensen, alongside Allan McNish and Rinaldo Capello. Lucas Luhr, Mike Rockenfeller and Alexandre Premat will drive a third R10 at Le Mans.