SO LONG: National Speed Sport News, in business for 76 years, has ceased publication following its March 23 issue. 

WELCOME BACK: A week after announcing it would leave the IZOD IndyCar Series at the end of 2011, IndyCar has reached an agreement with Firestone to keep the tire manufacturer involved with the series through 2013.

SO LONG: Firestone, which has supplied tires to the IZOD IndyCar Series since its first race in 1996, will leave the series at the end of the 2011 racing season.

BONUS MONEY: The IZOD IndyCar Series will offer a $5 million bonus for a driver from outside the series who can come in and win the season finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway October 16. The event will be known as the IZOD IndyCar World Championships.

HIGH SPEEDS: NASCAR officials have lowered the tolerance level of the pressure-relief valve on the radiator, hopefully forcing drivers to pull out of the draft to cool down their engines and eliminate the excessive speeds seen during the Budweiser Shootout.