IRL could lose title sponsor

Northern Light signed a five-year deal with the IRL in 1999, paying a reported $50 million to become the main backer of the all-oval single-seater championship.

However, the internet service provider was surprisingly absent at the beginning of the season in March, which at the time was explained by the fact that the company had not bought a share of IRL's television deal with American channel ABC.

However in the wake of last month's terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, and the likely onset of a recession, the five-year deal is being tipped to come to a premature end. IRL's director of media relations Ron Green refused to deny that Northern Light was on its way out.

"Northern Light, for the past two years, has been a great partner to the IRL," said Green. "Obviously with the economic climate in the industry, it remains to be seen whether we can continue this relationship."

Should the IRL lose Northern Light as its sponsor, it is not likely to put the series in any jeopardy. IRL president Tony George is known to provide much of the funding for the series from money made by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy 500, around which the championship is based.