IRL vs CART Legal Hassles Getting Intense

05/22/96

As reported by TACH last week the Indy Racing League (IRL) has filed a law suit against CART and the party is getting rough. Here's the gist of the new suit filed by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana. Named in the legal action are CART, Roger Penske, three of Penskes companies, and Fittipaldi U.S.A., a firm owned by Emmo. The suit asks for actual damages, treble damages, punitive damages and injunctive relief.

IRL says that CART interfered with their attempts to land sponsors and that they (CART) violated the Lanham act (trademarks) and are in violation of the Sherman anti-trust Act. To make things more interesting there are terms in the law suit that sting..."cartel, impede efforts, false and disparaging remarks, monopoly, conspiracy and boycott." IRL is asking for a jury trial.

In other IRL action it was announced that ABC-TV has extended their telecasting contract for the Indy 500 through the year 1999 and this also includes the Brickyard 400 NASCAR event in August.

Bill Maloney -- The Auto Channel