JANUARY 3, 2006

Hello! Formula 1! Time to listen

NASCAR continues to romp away from Formula 1 is terms of promotional activities with yet another NASCAR-linked movie now in the planning stages. Last year NASCAR played a big role in Disney's "Herbie - Fully Loaded" and Will Ferrell is just finishing a new comedy film about NASCAR which is due to go to theatres later this year. The film does not yet have a title but stars former Saturday Night Live writer Ferrell.

In June Disney will launch "Cars" an animated film by Pixar featuring a NASCAR-lookalike with the unlikely name of Lightning McQueen. The film will be directed by John Lasseter (Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2), and will feature the voices of Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt, Paul Newman, Cheech Marin plus NASCAR legends Richard Petty and Darrell Waltrip.

Now comes news that National Lampoon writers Jason Jordan and Matthew Lawton have sold a NASCAR script to producer Barry Kemp (best known for "Catch Me If You Can" and "Patch Adams". Jordan and Lawson have just finish working on National Lampoon's "Pledge This!". starring Paris Hilton. We hear that the plot will feature an up-and-coming driver being forced to team up with a female cosmetics executive who is looking to expand her brand in the female NASCAR fan base.

The last Formula 1-related film that reached fruition? It was about the same time that flared trousers were in fashion.