More Friday news briefs from Monaco

(GMM) Cloud will be present for the remainder of the Monaco grand prix weekend, and there is a forecast possibility of rain for Saturday, when practice and qualifying action resumes. "There is a chance of rainy conditions," Giancarlo Fisichella agreed.

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The worldwide economic recession has not foiled plans for an Indian grand prix, according to Vijay Mallya, owner of the Force India team and a high ranking Indian motor racing official. "I am very optimistic that (the circuit) will be built on time and that we will have our first grand prix in 2011," he said at Monaco.

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Pau Gasol, a Spanish basketball player for the LA Lakers, and one of the world's richest billionaires Carlos Slim, are involved in Adrian Campos' plans for a formula one team in 2010, the sports daily Marca claims. Spaniard Campos, a former Minardi driver, submitted an official entry on Friday for a budget capped team named Campos Meta 1. Pedro de la Rosa was mentioned as a possible driver.

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The terms 'Monte Carlo' and 'economic recession' do not usually go together, but it is impossible to ignore the deceleration of glitz on the verge of the Monaco grand prix this year. Usually brimming, there are notably empty seats in the grandstands, fewer and less impressive 'super yachts' in the harbor, plenty of hotel rooms to rent, and "less going on than in the past", German driver Nick Heidfeld observed to Auto Motor und Sport.

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Monaco grand prix promoter Michel Boeri is unlikely to apply for a contract extension beyond next year if Ferrari follows through with its threat to quit formula one, according to the Italian newspaper La Stampa.

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Brazilian Felipe Massa could not understand Giancarlo Fisichella's anger following a blocking incident in Thursday's practice at Monaco. "What does he think?" Ferrari's Massa told Tuttosport, "that the whole track is just for him?"

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Formula one will survive without Ferrari and the other car manufacturers that are threatening to withdraw over the spat with the governing FIA, BMW-Sauber driver Robert Kubica told Reuters. "It is not a long time ago that most of the teams were not big manufacturers. They were delivering engines but the teams were run by privateers," said the Pole. "If there is no Ferrari or no other car manufacturers, everyone will forget about them very quickly," the 24-year-old believes.