Nigel Mansell has made a sensational start to his Indycar racing career by smashing the track record at the Phoenix Firebird Raceway. In his first outing with the Newman-Haas Lola-Ford car, Mansell cut 8/10th's of a second off the record. "I'm still learning about the car so I feel I can improve quite a bit more," he said. "I'm really pleased."

06.01.93

Nigel Mansell made a dazzling start to his Indycar career by smashing the track record in testing at the Phoenix Firebird Raceway. The Formula One world champion completed 60 laps for his first drive in the Newman Hass Lola Ford with a best time of 44.8 seconds. "There's a lot of dust on the track and I'm still learning about the car so I feel I can improve quite a bit more," he commented. His appearance attracted a packed crowd to the track.

07.01.93

Nigel Mansell's long-awaited debut on America's banked oval Indycar tracks has been delayed by flooding. The Formula One world champion had been scheduled to make his first appearance in a Lola-Ford car on an oval track in Phoenix, Arizona. But continuous heavy rain caused flooding on the track and Mansell had to be content with 75mph demonstration laps in his Cadillac. "I am disappointed with the weather but I am not making too much of a fuss," said Mansell.

Britain's Martin Brundle is set to follow compatriot Nigel Mansell into Indycar racing. Brundle finished sixth in last year's world championship but was still dropped by Benetton at the end of the season. Brundle is strongly tipped to be the lead driver for Tom Walkinshaw, who has announced he will run a two-car Lola-Ford team. Walkinshaw, whose Jaguars won three world sportscar championships, has not confirmed his choice of drivers.

08.01.93

Nigel Mansell made a stunning debut on his first Indycar oval test drive by blasting to within half a second of the Phoenix lap record. Mansell, who was denied on Thursday by heavy rain, took the Newman-Haas Lola-Ford round the one-mile oval in just 21.42 seconds. He did a total of 75 laps in six runs during the session and said: "I think it shows a few people what I can do." Admiring Paul Newman said: "What he did today was quite fantastic."

09.01.93

World champion Nigel Mansell has said he has no intention of returning to Formula One in 1994. Mansell made a stunning debut test drive for the Newman-Haas Indycar team but was unable to test further due to heavy rain and high winds. Mansell said: "I honestly feel my Formula One career has ended. I'm due here for one year but I'm hoping it's much longer. "I've made a deal and that's all there is to it. There's no going back for me."

11.01.93

German Michael Bartels has signed for the newly formed Pacific Grand Prix team for the 1993 season. The 24-year-old finished fourth in last year's F3000 series but failed to qualify in the four races he had for Lotus in F1 in 1991.

14.01.93

Martin Brundle and Mark Blundell have signed for Ligier for this year's F1 world championship. Brundle finished sixth in last year's series but was dropped by Benetton and was expected to follow Nigel Mansell into Indycars. Blundell drove for Brabham in 1991 alongside Brundle but failed to secure an F1 place last season. Ligier's new president Cyril de Rouvre said Eric Bernard would test the team's cars.

19.01.93

French sports minister Frederique Bredin has said that the government had offered sufficient guarantees to allow the French formula one Grand Prix to be reinstated. This season's Grand Prix was struck off because of controversial laws banning tobacco advertising.

Brazilian driver Christain Fittipaldi is to stay with the Italian team Minardi in the 1993 World Championship.

21.01.93

World champions Williams have not appeared among the list of entries for this year's Formula One series. FISA, the sport's ruling body, gave a list of 26 cars entered by the deadline but did not rule out a late entry by the British team. This would require agreement from all competing teams and a report on French radio indicated that three had already refused to approve a late application from Williams. Williams won 10 out of 16 GP races last season to easily win the title.

Frank Williams is blaming two rival teams for preventing his Formula One outfit from being included in the 1993 championship entry list. Because Williams entry was made one day after the deadline it failed to go through automatically. Under the rules all the other teams approval was needed. Williams said: "Two teams have refused to sign in order to obtain concessions from Williams involving limiting Formula One technology."

23.01.93

The Williams team may have to agree to limit the technology used in their cars in order to take part in Formula One this season. They failed to meet the deadline for registering their cars and two rivals, Benetton and Minardi, are refusing to let them enter late. Team boss Frank Williams claims the other teams are trying to force him to accept technical limits that could reduce their dominance. FISA president Max Mosley said it was up to Williams to find the solution to resolve the problem.

Benetton want changes in the way Formula One governed in return for allowing Williams a place on the 1993 Grand Prix circuit. Williams missed the registration deadline and need unanimous support from all their rivals to take part. "When the teams met in London to discuss ways of relaunching Formula One we had to accept all the vetos posted by Williams. Benetton is fighting for a system where decision are taken by a broad majority," said Benetton managing director Flavio Briatore.

A climbdown by anti-tobacco lobbyists has opened the way for this year's French Grand Prix at Magny Cours to be reinstated. Lobby representatives have agreed to drop legal action against teams for carrying tobacco advertising. Both the motor racing and motor cycling events were struck off the championship calendar last year due to France's tough anti-tobacco laws. FISA have left the July 4 date open and are awaiting guarantees from the French Federation that cars will not be seized.

26.01.93

Testing session at Estoril

27.01.93

Martin Donnelly is to drive a Formula One car for the first time since his horrific crash in Spain two years ago. The 28-year-old Ulsterman will take the wheel of a Sasol Jordan at Silverstone a week on Thursday. Donnelly suffered horrendous injuries when his car careered off the track during practice for the 1990 Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez. He said: "I've worked hard towards getting in shape for this and now I feel ready to meet the challenge."

Testing session at Estoril

28.01.93

Testing session at Estoril

29.01.93

Alain Prost walked away from a spectacular crash in his Williams during the final day of the testing week at Estoril. He lost control on a bend and span off the track, badly damaging the rear of the car. A team spokesman said the Frenchman suffered only slight concussion. Prost sat out the 1992 season and has admitted finding the high-tech Williams a difficult one to drive.

Testing session at Estoril

Former Ligier driver Erik Comas has signed for French team Larrouse for the 1993 season.