SILVERSTONE, England — McLaren chief Martin Whitmarsh told Formula One’s governing body Saturday that any peace deal must be reached before the end of July to prevent the British team and seven others from forming a rival series next season.
While FIA president Max Mosley remains confident of a resolution, Whitmarsh said that the point of no return with the Formula One Teams Association series is fast approaching.
“I don’t think it’s days, but think it’s weeks rather than many months,” Whitmarsh said. “I think by the end of July everybody is going to be progressively on diverging paths, so whatever separates us today will be greater by then.
“We are obliged to start planning now, which means entering into arrangements — and so has the FIA — so both parties have to plan on the assumption that they are doing things separately. Progressively, those plans and arrangements became locked in place.”
Finding a resolution will be hindered by the FIA’s plans to sue McLaren and the other FOTA teams, citing “serious violations of law” in creating the rival series.
The breakaway by McLaren, Ferrari, Renault, BMW Sauber, Toyota, Brawn GP, Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso was announced Thursday after the teams refused to enter the 2010 championship that featured the FIA’s voluntary $65 million budget cap.
• Sebastian Vettel captured the pole for today’s British Grand Prix while series championship leader Jenson Button will start from a season-worst sixth position.
Edwards, Hornaday race to wins
WEST ALLIS, Wis. — Carl Edwards made the most of his one-day Wisconsin getaway, winning NASCAR’s Nationwide series race at the Milwaukee Mile after taking a brief break from his Sprint Cup duties in California.
It’s a repeat win at Milwaukee and the first Nationwide win of the season for Edwards.
Earlier, Ron Hornaday Jr. celebrated his 51st birthday in style with a dominating win in the Camping World Truck series race.
Castroneves is on the pole
NEWTON, Iowa — Helio Castroneves was awarded the pole for today’s Iowa Corn Indy 250 IRL race after the qualifying session was canceled because water had seeped into the track.
Today’s races
NASCAR SPRINT CUP Toyota/SaveMart 350
Site: Sonoma, Calif.
TV: TNT, 3 p.m.
Track: Infineon Raceway (road course, 1.99 miles)
Race distance: 218.9 miles, 110 laps
Next race: Lenox Industrial Tools 301, June 28, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, N.H.
On the Net: www.nascar.com
INDYCAR SERIES Iowa Corn Indy 250
Site: Newton, Iowa
TV: ABC, 11 a.m.
Track: Iowa Speedway (oval, 0.875 miles)
Race distance: 218.75 miles, 250 laps
Next race: SunTrust Indy Challenge, June 27, Richmond International Raceway, Richmond, Va.
On the Net: www.indycar.com
FORMULA ONE British Grand Prix
Site: Silverstone, England
TV: Speed Channel, 6 a.m.; Fox, 1 p.m. tape
Track: Silverstone circuit (road course, 3.19 miles)
Race distance: 191.6 miles, 60 laps
Next race: German Grand Prix, July 12, Nuerburgring, Hockenheim, Germany
On the Net: www.formula1.com
