Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Tuesday 17 March 2020
NASCAR suspends season until May but will reschedule events

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — are monitoring constantly
NASCAR has suspended its in coordination with fed-
season until May as part of eral, state, local and pub-
the CDC's recommenda- lic health officials. We are
tion to postpone gatherings planning for all contingen-
for the next eight weeks cies and will be prepared
because of the COVID-19 to run the GMR Grand Prix
pandemic and Indy 500 as the COV-
The decision came after ID-19 situation permits."
at least two Monday con- IndyCar's 17-race schedule
ference calls between the has been hit hard by the
sanctioning body and its coronavirus because street
team owners. It affects sev- races in St. Petersburg,
en total races — Atlanta Florida and Long Beach,
and Homestead had al- California, have been can-
ready been postponed. celed outright. Two road
"The health and safety of course events in Birming-
our fans, industry and the ham, Alabama, and Austin,
communities in which we Texas, could be resched-
race is our most important uled.
priority," NASCAR said. Nearly every racing series in
The series plans to return In this Nov. 18, 2018, file photo, Denny Hamlin, left, leads the pack at the start of the NASCAR Cup the world has ceased com-
to the track at Martinsville Series championship auto race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, in Homestead, Fla. petition since coronavirus
Speedway in Virginia on Associated Press became a global pan-
May 9. demic. IMSA moved the 12
"We intend to hold all 36 ta Motor Speedway and cough. For some, espe- The speedway — and now Hours of Sebring scheduled
races this season, with fu- Homestead-Miami Speed- cially older adults and the season — are sched- for this weekend until No-
ture rescheduling soon way. people with existing health uled to open the first week vember's season finale.
to be determined as we NASCAR had not ad- problems, it can cause of May. Roger Penske, the Organizers of the 24 Hours
continue to monitor this dressed anything beyond more severe illness, includ- new owner of IndyCar and of Le Mans said Monday
situation closely with public Homestead until Monday's ing pneumonia. The vast the speedway, hopes to a decision will be made
health officials and medi- announcement. majority of people recover open the speedway a few in mid-April about its June
cal experts," NASCAR said. IndyCar and Formula One from the new virus within a days before the May 9 race race.
"What is important now both canceled last week- few weeks. on the road course to build Supercross ran its first 10
transcends the world of end's season-opening rac- Indianapolis Motor Speed- in test days. Penske wants races but the 2020 season
sports and our focus is on es, IndyCar has suspended way early Monday issued teams as prepared as pos- has been postponed un-
everyone's safety and well- the season through the end a statement acknowledg- sible for the Indianapolis til further notice. The series
being as we navigate this of April and F1 said upcom- ing the CDC guideline 500. has canceled five races —
challenging time together." ing races in Bahrain, Viet- against gatherings, is plan- "Our priority is to do our part at Indianapolis, Detroit, Se-
NASCAR first said it would nam and China are post- ning for all contingencies, in protecting the public attle, Denver and Foxboro.
run last weekend and this poned. but also is prepared to run health while still conduct- No makeup dates were
coming weekend without For most people, the new its events in May. The Indy ing the 104th Indianapolis announced for the April
spectators, but reversed coronavirus causes only 500, scheduled for May 24, 500," the speedway said. 25 event at Las Vegas and
course Friday and post- mild or moderate symp- typically draws more than "This continues to be a dy- the May 2 race at Salt Lake
poned the races at Atlan- toms, such as fever and 300,000 fans. namic situation which we City.q

Continued from previous page of both Alaska Airlines and "After feeling some real
"We will address 2021 spon- Chrysler as race sponsors. pressure from PETA, Chrysler
sorships after the conclu- The group says the nearly put the brakes on its con-
sion of the race," Iditarod 1,000-mile race across Alas- nection with the Iditarod
CEO Rob Urbach said in an ka is cruel for the dogs. and is sending the message
email. "Our mission is solely It also claims more than 150 that dogs deserve better
focused on executing a dogs have died since the than being run to death
safe and healthy race, and race started in 1973. Idi- for mushers' prize money,''
look forward to welcoming tarod officials dispute that PETA Executive Vice Presi-
race teams to Nome." number but have not pro- dent Tracy Reiman said in
The announcement came vided their own count de- a statement. "Alaska Air-
as mushers are making spite numerous requests by lines has also withdrawn its
the final push for Nome in The Associated Press. sponsorship of this wretch-
this year's race. The nearly PETA is the race's biggest ed race in which over 150
1,000-mile (1,609-kilome- critic and has for years tar- dogs have died, and we
ter) race started March 8 in Thomas Waerner mushes into Unalakleet, Alaska, Sunday, geted sponsors. In Chrys- hope this year is the last
Willow with 57 mushers. Six March 15, 2020 during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. ler's case, that includes year dogs will suffer in this
have withdrawn. Associated Press more than a quarter-million way."
Thomas Waerner of Nor- emails from PETA support- Alaska Airlines denied PETA
way was leading the race. second place musher, Jes- nounced it was dropping ers, television ads in the had anything to do with its
He was the first musher to sie Royer of Fairbanks, was its sponsorship of the race, Detroit area and protesters decision to drop sponsor-
arrive in Koyuk, about 150 arriving Monday afternoon. which has been targeted dragging a sled filled with ship of the race after more
miles (241 kilometers) from Alaska Airlines, the Seattle- by an animal rights group. fake dead dogs around than 40 years and instead
the finish line. He rested based airline that got its People for the Ethical Treat- downtown Detroit, the or- said it was a change in the
in the checkpoint for four start decades ago in Alas- ment of Animals was first to ganization said in a state- company's corporate giv-
hours and left just as the ka, earlier this month an- announce the departure ment. ing strategy.q