Ruling Lets Driver Off Easier Than Expected

Michael Schumacher got off lightly and two teams were cleared of race-fixing Tuesday by FIA, Formula One racing’s governing body in Slough, England.

Schumacher, a two-time world champion and the sport’s most marketable driver, escaped without a ban or a fine for his collision with Canada’s Jacques Villeneuve in the season-ending European Grand Prix on Oct. 26 in Jerez, Spain.

In what amounted to a mild penalty, FIA’s World Motor Sports Council stripped Schumacher of his second-place finish in the 1997 drivers’ standings and ordered him to take part in a safe-driving campaign next year.

Schumacher had a one-point lead over Villeneuve before the European Grand Prix. As Villeneuve tried to pass him on the 48th lap, Schumacher turned into the Canadian in an apparently deliberate move.

But instead of knocking Villeneuve’s car out, Schumacher’s car skidded off into a gravel pit and out of the race. Villeneuve continued on, finishing third and clinching his first Formula One title.

Some reports had suggested that Schumacher might be fined as much as $2 million and banned for part or all of the 1998 season.

In a related ruling, the FIA cleared the Williams and McLaren teams of colluding to fix the European Grand Prix.

News reports, based on transcripts of radio conversations during the race, said Villeneuve was ordered by Williams to let McLaren drivers Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard pass him on the final lap. The McLarens went on to finish first and second.

Tennis

Defending champion Pete Sampras, seeking his fourth title in the elite season-ending ATP Tour World Championship, made 50 unforced errors and lost to Spaniard Carlos Moya in Hanover, Germany, 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 6-2.

Because of the round-robin format of the preliminary round, Sampras is still in contention. But he faces tough matches against Patrick Rafter and Greg Rusedski, both ranked higher than Moya.

Rafter beat the big-serving Rusedski, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. In the other group, Michael Chang, No. 2 in the world, survived four set points in the first set and beat Sergi Bruguera of Spain, 7-6 (10-8), 6-2.

Women’s Basketball

Detroit and Washington are joining the WNBA, and Orlando and Chicago may be next.

The WNBA received formal approval from the NBA Board of Governors in New York to expand to 10 teams. Detroit and Washington will join Charlotte, Cleveland and New York in the year-old league’s Eastern Conference.

Defending champion Houston will shift to the Western Conference, joining Los Angeles, Phoenix, Sacramento and Utah.

The league’s operating committee will recommend another two expansion cities by June 1 and Orlando and Chicago are considered the favorites.

Miscellany

About 500 tickets to the Rose Bowl game will be available to Pasadena residents at 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 6 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium box office.

Each purchaser will be required to provide photo identification proving residence in Pasadena, and will be allowed to buy two end zone tickets for $75 each.

Two days later, at 5 p.m., 1,000 tickets will go on sale nationwide by telephone only through TicketMaster.

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J.D. Drew of Florida State was presented the Golden Spikes Award at a ceremony in New York by the U.S. Baseball Federation as the year’s top amateur player. Drew, 21, selected second in June’s amateur draft by the Philadelphia Phillies, hit .455 with 31 homers, 100 RBIs and 32 steals last season, becoming the first 30-30 player in NCAA history. Drew is holding out for a $10 million signing bonus from the Phillies.

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The Arena Football League has enacted one of the toughest drug policies in professional sports, prohibiting use of any illegal drug or steroid and calling for a one-year suspension for the first positive test result. A second-time offender is subject to a lifetime ban without any means for reinstatement. First-time offenders in the other major team sports are sent to treatment or intervention programs.