SIDELINES : Racing Team Ordered to Pay Fine

The McLaren-Honda racing team must pay a $100,000 fine imposed on driver Ayrton Senna by Thursday or lose its license to compete in Formula One racing, the sport’s ruling body said today.

A letter from Yvon Leon, secretary general of the International Auto Sports Federation (FISA), said McLaren’s license would be suspended until the fine is paid.

McLaren, whose cars have won world championships in four of the last six seasons, has been feuding with FISA since November when Senna was fined for misconduct.

On Monday, FISA President Jean-Marie Balestre said Senna will not be granted a license to compete in Formula One unless he retracts allegations that last year’s championship was manipulated in favor of Frenchman Alain Prost, at the time his McLaren teammate. Senna, a Brazilian, won the 1988 drivers’ world championship but finished second last year to Prost, who moved to Ferrari at the end of the season.