Savvy TV commentator Bob Varsha has somehow penetrated the secrecy of Formula One’s prize money. In a detailed note to this writer, he explains that the total purse — a figure few have ever known — is divided into three parts; 20 percent which goes to the top 20 qualifiers based on qualifying times, two percent of that figure for first, down to four-tenths of one percent for 20th. Then, 45 percent of the total is devoted to car placings at the quarter mark, halfway mark, three-quarter distance and the race finish. The remaining 35 percent goes to the teams, says Varsha, half of it based on constructor points gained over the two previous half seasons, and the other half divided equally among the top 10 teams based on points scored over the previous two half seasons. No one is saying what the total dollar figures are. However, garage-area estimates indicate the $100 million fine handed Team McLaren by the FIA would be lowered by half, based on prize money won by the team that year. If so, that would indicate a lot of zeroes are found in the total purse figure. You do the math.

Of the plenitude of racing offered on TV this past weekend, there were far too many empty seats to suit this observer. Poorly populated grandstands were seen in Iowa (ARCA RE/MAX), Mexico City (Grand Am and Nationwide), Japan (IRL) while Long Beach (ALMS and Champ Car) did the best job of the weekend in filling seats, though there were plenty empty. A big round of applause for Danica Patrick and her well-deserved but surprising IRL victory in Saturday’s Bridgestone Indy Japan 300. Little did anyone foresee such an outcome for, with 10 laps remaining at Twin Ring Motegi, Danica was back in seventh position. Japanese video gave us a look at Danica’s happy husband, heretofore unseen on TV. Her victory should be a big boost for Indy 500 ticket sales and should Danica win the pole position for the Indy 500, it could trigger an overnight grandstand sellout.

NASCAR officials overseeing Sunday’s Nationwide Series race in Mexico City get a plug from this reporter for keeping yellow flags to a minimum. They gave minor spinners, etc., an opportunity to get going without waving the yellow flag. 

I hope I’m wrong, but weren’t Graham Rahal and Jimmy Vasser the only American-born drivers in the 20-man field in Sunday’s Champ Car finale at Long Beach?

Unlike the recent decision by the ALMS to “go green” this year, employing biofuels and other technical and operative changes to benefit our environment, the Sports Car Club of America looks at such issues differently. At the executive level of this popular stateside car club there is strong belief the U.S. government will, some day, issue a nationwide ban on the use of leaded gasoline. With that in mind, SCCA says it is actively working on an appropriate date to announce its ban on use of leaded fuel in club racing. Because many — the majority? — of club racing engines are high-compression units that require leaded gasoline, the club plans to make its leaded fuel ban announcement well ahead of its effective date so competitors can “use up” their current equipment which demands leaded-gasoline. Not an easy task.

Seeking young buyers, Toyota is employing its racing presence to attract young Americans to its brand. The past two weekends Toyota has conducted free hands-on advanced driving skills exercises at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The four-hour “Toyota Driving Expectations” programs offers teen-aged drivers at-track time at the wheel in Toyotas under the direction of experienced professional drivers. The teenagers had to be accompanied by a parent or guardian for collective learning reasons.

Watching TV showing driver Kyle Petty in action on the track, and then hearing him describe his day, we’d say Kyle talks faster than he drives.

Hey collectors: I have 36 back issues of Vintage Oval Magazine stacked up ready to toss, but held up feeling someone might want them. You can have them for the shipping cost, about $25 or so, I’d guess. Interested? E-mail me at Eldermaki@Hyperband.com, include phone number.

Too much mouth. Owner-driver Robby Gordon’s negative comments on the cancellation of the most-recent Dakar Rally so upset Vanguard Integrity Professionals, one of his sponsors, that they told him to remove all their logos from his cars and return the $1.5 million sponsorship fee paid him. Vanguard, a software security company, is now suing Gordon in U.S. District Court in California seeking return of this money. Vanguard’s deal with Gordon for the rally sponsorship covered three years through January 2010 for out-of-U.S. sponsorship, but this year’s event was canceled the day before its scheduled Jan. 5 start due to terrorist threats. Gordon disputed the threats, saying at least some of the rally should have been held. 

NASCAR team owner Richard Childress has long received plaudits for the cars he places in competition. Now, Childress is collecting honors for the quality of his four-year-old winery, thanks to its recent listing as one of the top 25 wine-tasting rooms in this country. It is in Lexington, N.C., in the heart of the young Yadkin Valley wine-growing area. Want to taste? Call Kathleen Watson (336) 236-9463 ext. 304. Tell her you read about it in Speed Sport.

A posh benefit breakfast — costing $100 to aid the needy — will be held at 9 a.m. May 22 at the Andretti-Green Racing Center in Indianapolis. Proceeds ($80 of the cost is tax deductible) go to Kids Against Hunger, a world-wide benefit organization. Guests will be briefed on the organization and assist in packaging meals for export. AGR team drivers are invited. Details at (610) 365-0500.

And driver Tony Stewart, who now owns the classy Eldora Speedway in western Ohio, says he hopes the fourth running of the track’s Prelude to the Dream late model stock car race featuring top-line NASCAR drivers on June 4 raises $1 million for the Victory Junction Gang camp. It is to be on HBO Pay Per View at $24.95. Last year’s round generated $800,000 for the Petty-founded camp for children with life-threatening diseases.

Junior Johnson, long retired as a driver and team owner, is still at it business wise. The 76-year-old Johnson is busier than ever selling Frank Fries, a deep-fried foot-long hot dog slices in the size and shape of a French-fried potato. They come from a company the ex-driver co-owns, Yadkin Valley Foods of Winston-Salem, N.C. Junior has struck a deal with the Lowe’s Speedway concessionaire Levy Restaurants to have his new product among the food offerings at the Coca-Cola 600 over the Memorial Day weekend.

From The NSSN Staff

Joie Chitwood may be the only speedway president in the world whose formal training began as a stint as the “Human Battering Ram.” During a stop at NSSN’s North Carolina office April 12, the grandson of racing Hall of Famer and celebrated stuntman Joie Chitwood tipped that one of his first racing jobs was to be strapped to the hood of a car while his dad or uncle drove it through a burning wall as part of the legendary Joie Chitwood Thrill Shows pioneered by his grandfather, who was known during his racing days as The Chief. Now, president of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the third-generation Chitwood oversees a staff of 350 full-time employees that includes a self-supporting trash removal, food service and art department. Chitwood estimates that on race day, the speedway staff grows to more than 8,000 part-time employees. Chitwood said there is no question that the unification of open-wheel racing has helped ticket sales for the Indianapolis 500. He explained that every fan who bought a ticket at IMS since 1998, but was not a current ticket holder, received a letter co-written by IRL team owner Roger Penske and Champ Car team owner Paul Newman asking them to return to the speedway. According to Chitwood, the response was tremendous.

Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and International Speedway Corp. are suing one another over the radio rights for the NASCAR events at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. ISC’s Motor Racing Network has a contract with the New Hampshire facility, which was sold to SMI by the Bahre family last fall. SMI believes that contract is not enforceable because of the sale, and would ideally like to see the event aired on its Performance Racing Network. The PRN suit was filed in New Hampshire, where no court date has been set. Meanwhile the MRN paperwork was filed in Florida, with a preliminary hearing set this week in Orlando.

Longtime USAC sprint-car owner Donald Watson died April 16 after a long illness. He was 67. Donald and his late father, George “Shorty” Watson, campaigned their No. 79 Leffler sprinter all over the Midwest during the 1960s and ’70s using drivers including Tim Richmond, Clark Templeton, Butch Wilkerson and Bob Kinser.