Late Racing News.(Brief Article)

Cheever/Scheckter update

* The contract conflict between Eddie Cheever and former IRL teammate Tomas Scheckter is more fundamental than first thought. Cheever says he and technical partner TWR are willing to allow Scheckter to buy his way out of the contract that runs through the end of the 2003 season. Scheckter's manager Enrico Zanarini said the rookie driver completely severed his ties to the team. ``It's very straightforward,'' Zanarini said. ``We have terminated the contract for reasons I cannot yet tell you. But Eddie Cheever has no right on Tomas' contract. He simply cannot do the things he's said.'' Zanarini said Scheckter would return to the IRL ``very soon,'' although he declined to elaborate.

Priestley done with ovals

* Jason Priestley, the actor seriously injured in an Infiniti Pro Series crash Aug. 11 at Kentucky Speedway, will not return to oval-track racing, his friend (and Kelley Racing general manager) Jim Freudenberg says. ``He does want to race again, but it will be in a sports car [on road courses],'' Freudenberg says of Priestley, who is recovering in an undisclosed Indianapolis rehabilitation center and is unavailable for comment. Freudenberg said he told Priestley, who turned 33 on Aug. 28, that he would help him work toward a ride in the American Le Mans Series. Priestley suffered two badly broken feet, broken ribs, facial contusions and a moderate concussion in the accident. He is expected to make a full recovery.

Busy place

* Race car constructor Pratt & Miller is about to become a busy place if the rumor mill can be believed. Sources said ...