Formula One Team Is Fined a Record $100M

Accused of using leaked secret data from its main rival Ferrari, the Formula One team McLaren was hit with a record $100 million fine yesterday by the World Motor Sport Council in the biggest scandal to hit the auto racing circuit.

The team, also stripped of its constructors' points, already was battling accusations that it had used team orders to decide which driver would win races.

The case broke in July when a 780-page dossier on Ferrari cars was found at the home of McLaren's chief designer, Mike Coughlan, who was suspended. Ferrari mechanic Nigel Stepney, who allegedly supplied the documents, was fired.

The $100 million fine imposed on McLaren is 40 times larger than the previous F1 record ($2.5 million), but likely won't cost McLaren the Formula One drivers' title.

Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, who lead the drivers' standings, are well ahead of Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa with four races left.

-- COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Texas senior safety Tyrell Gatewood was suspended indefinitely after his arrest on drug charges, the fifth arrest of a Longhorns player since June.

Freshman defensive back Ben Wells, who was riding with Gatewood when he was pulled over late Wednesday, was given a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia and released.

Gatewood was charged with two counts of possession of a dangerous drug. It was his second drug-related arrest in a year.

-- HOCKEY: Buffalo Sabres defenseman Teppo Numminen, 39, needs a third surgery to correct a heart condition. Numminen has had two surgeries for an irregular heartbeat, including one in the summer of 2006.

-- TENNIS: Lindsay Davenport, returning to singles play for the first time since having a child in June, beat Julie Ditty, 6-1, 6-4, to reach the quarterfinals at the Bali Open in Nusa Dua, Indonesia.

-- HORSE RACING: In an effort to completely eliminate its net debt of nearly $700 million by the end of next year, struggling racetrack operator Magna Entertainment announced plans yesterday to sell underperforming tracks as well as substantial real estate holdings, potentially including property adjacent to Laurel Park.

While Maryland tracks Laurel Park and Pimlico are considered among its core assets -- along with four other major tracks -- Magna will consider selling 127 acres of property that are not part of the 235 acres actively used for stabling horses and racing at Laurel.

Magna, which arranged for $100 million in funding to maintain cash flow during the sales, will market Great Lakes Downs in Michigan, Thistledown in Ohio, and Portland Meadows in Oregon as well sell property in California, Florida, New York and Austria.

-- From News Services and Staff Reports