F1 SEATS ALMOST FILLED.(Competition)

Force India (formerly Spyker) is the only Formula One team not yet to have finalized its 2008 race driver lineup. It would like to use an Indian but is expected to confirm soon that it signed Giancarlo Fisichella as Adrian Sutil's teammate.

Former Renault driver Fisichella reportedly has raised almost $15 million in 2008 sponsorship.

Meanwhile, Ralf Schumacher, who left Toyota at the end of the season, tested for Force India in December but appears unlikely to find another F1 drive. "I didn't really expect to join Force India,'' Schumacher told Germany's Bild newspaper. "I took on the test drive as an opportunity to prove myself. I would like to continue my Grand Prix career, but it's not an obligation, and I don't know if those are the right conditions. Maybe that was the last time I will drive a Formula One car.''

Force India decided not to sign Karun Chandhok, the Indian who won his first GP2 Series race last season. However, team co-owner Vijay Mallya told Chandhok that he will watch his GP2 progress closely, with an eye toward signing him for 2009. Chandhok will drive in GP2 for iSports International and will serve as an F1 test driver for Red Bull Racing. The other Indian candidate is Narain Karthikeyan, the former Jordan Grand Prix driver who scored Team India's first A1GP win at Zhuhai, China, in December.

KAHNE IN COURT

NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne has a Jan. 8 court date in south Florida on a misdemeanor battery charge. Security guard Archibald Hutchinson sued the Gillett Evernham Motorsports driver over a Nov. 16 incident at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Hutchinson claims he suffered "severe physical injuries'' when Kahne (in his driver's uniform) shoved him after he tried to keep Kahne from entering a motor-home lot without showing any credentials.

Hutchinson's attorney says his client was injured physically and emotionally and is under medical care and unable to work. A police report says Hutchinson suffered "minor bruises and abrasions.'' The suit seeks unspecified damages in excess of $15,000.