Heitzler Chosen New President of CART

Joseph F. Heitzler, a former television executive, has been chosen the new president and chief executive coordinator of Championship Auto Racing Teams.

Heitzler, 56, was the unanimous choice of CART’s board of directors and was signed to a multiyear contract. He replaces former driver Bobby Rahal, who had served as interim president since June 16, after the resignation of Andrew Craig.

Heitzler has worked for National Mobile Television Productions, CBS Sports and Forum Sports Entertainment.

Soccer

The U.S. has chosen Columbus, Ohio, as the site of its opener against Mexico on Feb. 28 in the final round of qualifying for the 2002 World Cup.

The U.S. Soccer Federation scheduled a conference call today to make the announcement.

The USSF wanted a cold-weather site for the game that would give the Americans an advantage over the Mexicans, traditionally the strongest nation in soccer’s North and Central American and Caribbean region.

The U.S. and Mexico are in the six-nation regional finals, which will produce three qualifiers for the 2002 tournament in Japan and South Korea.

Roy Lassiter, the top scorer in Major League Soccer’s five-year history, was traded from the Miami Fusion to the MLS champion Kansas City Wizards for midfielder Chris Henderson.

In a separate move, the Wizards traded their first pick in the third round of the 2001 MLS draft to the Dallas Burn for midfielder-defender Mark Santel.

Baseball

Jeff Nelson, traded by the Mariners to the New York Yankees five years ago, returned to Seattle when he agreed to a three-year contract worth between $10.5 million and $11 million.

Nelson was 8-4 with a 2.45 earned-run average in 73 games with the Yankees last season.

Tony Gwynn’s agent rejected the San Diego Padres’ latest contract offer and countered with three different options in an attempt to work out a deal before Thursday.

Gwynn is a free agent for the first time in his 19-year career, and a deal would have to be reached by Thursday night in order for him to stay in San Diego.

The two sides remain at odds over base pay. On top of a $1 million salary, the Padres have added a $250,000 bonus payable if Gwynn is on the opening day active roster. Gwynn is seeking at least $2 million in base pay.

The Mets lost in their bid to obtain South Korean pitcher Dae Sung Koo when his team decided to deal him to a Japanese club. Dae struck out 11 in leading South Korea past Japan, 3-1, for the bronze medal at the Sydney Olympics.

The Seattle Mariners won’t move in the fences at Safeco Field in an effort to re-sign star shortstop Alex Rodriguez.

“We like the ballpark as it is and we’re not going to make decisions like that based on one player,” General Manager Pat Gillick said.

As expected, left-hander Denny Neagle and the Colorado Rockies agreed to a $51.5 million, five-year contract, a deal that includes a team option for 2006. . . . Dodger coach Manny Mota was named manager of Licey of the Dominican Winter League.

Miscellany

French sports ministry officials and a delegation from cycling’s governing body urged Olympic organizers to say if they will approve a French-developed anti-doping test.

French officials and representatives from the International Cycling Union said they hoped the process and timetable for clearing the test, which screens urine for the banned performance-enhancing hormone EPO, would be “rapidly and clearly defined,” a ministry statement said.