APRIL 23, 2005

Billionaires at dawn

Billionaire racing team owner Dietrich Mateschitz was in a very jolly mood at Imola, having announced a new engine deal with Ferrari for 2006 and 2007. The Red Bull Racing team will be supplying Ferrari with a big chunk of cash and Jean Todt and his customer engine division at Ferrari will be putting the money into the Ferrari piggy-bank to make up for earnings which will be lost next year because of poor results so far this season.

Billionaire engine company Kevin Kalkhoven was rather less chirpy on Saturday afternoon when he flew in to Imola from America to have talks with Herr Mateschitz about Red Bull Racing using Kalkhoven's Cosworth Racing V8s in 2006 and discovered that the Red Bull magnate had failed to mention that he would not be needing Cosworth's help next year.

Billionaire racing promoter Bernie Ecclestone was no doubt pleased with the outcome of the deal as Ferrari gets some more income and Red Bull gets a competitive engine.