Teams to be limited to four cars

NASCAR officials have now confirmed the widely-expected move, that 'one ownership group' will now be capped at four cars to limit costs. The limit will start in 2006, but NASCAR will work with Roush on a time frame to reduce their five-car squad to four.

The four-car limit will extend to owners and any affiliate group, which includes situations where one or more of the car owners is entitled to receive, or actually receives, any financial consideration based upon the performance of the cars entered by the other car owners, or has any revenue sharing or ownership stake in the team.

Roush owner Jack Roush said he remains a critic of the cap, but added: "I'm committed to participate in this sport as long as I live. NASCAR has agreed to work with us to get us where we need to be and that's what we'll do."

All Roush's sponsor and car deals are understood to be contracted until 2009. Gavin Smith, Roush Racing president told the Associated Press: "It is hard for Jack not to believe that there is a laser bulls-eye on his forehead.

"Our impression is if every one of those sponsors wants to continue past '09, they can. If some of the sponsors don't want to continue on but every driver wants to continue past '09, that would be OK, too. But its very unlikely that all of that will happen.

"But the bottom line is we will have to go to four. It won't be next year, it won't be for a few years, but we will have to get there."