Recently, the sports editors here decided to streamline the e-mail system, creating a single account that will go directly to all people in charge of editing and assignments. It's been a very nice upgrade that makes it easier for our writers to keep in touch with editors, and for the editors to get feedback from readers.

Apparently, it's also been a favorite target from a new club I'll call "The Passionate WNBA Fan Form Letter Association."

Since the Mystics began training camp, we've received scores of e-mails that read:

"Dear Editor,

Thanks."


We were impressed with how many e-mails we were getting (even if they were form letters) and my editor responded to many of them personally.

But we had to chuckle when we saw this one:

"Dear Editor,

The WNBA is an important sport and I would love to read more about the team, players and entire league this season.
Thanks."

At the very least, fans might want to change the name of the team on the form letter before you send it. It's fair to ask us to cover the Mystics, but we closed our Sacramento sports bureau years ago.

- Tim Lemke

With the Indianapolis 500 coming up on Sunday, a couple of U.S. Senators have written a letter to NASCAR CEO Brian France, urging him to follow the Indy Racing League in switching to ethanol fuel.

Evan Bayh (D-IN) and John Thune (R-SD) said NASCAR can play a role in reducing the nation's dependence on foreign oil.

"We believe that respected American traditions, such as NASCAR and the Indy Racing League, have a responsibility to lead by example and help cut our ties to foreign sources of oil and embrace alternative renewable resources that are produced here at home," the senators wrote. "To this end, we ask that NASCAR consider converting its race car fleet to run on 100 percent American-produced ethanol, as well as start a long-term commitment to promote clean, renewable homegrown fuels."

NASCAR, which already received a similar letter from General Motors, has resisted a move to ethanol at this point, citing a variety of safety concerns and the fact that the league just switched from leaded to unleaded gasoline this year. It seems unlikely Congress can force NASCAR to do anything, but members have shown some influence in the area of sports in the past (i.e. steroids in baseball.) These two particular Senators reside in the heart of ethanol country, and their constituents would likely benefit from any boost in ethanol production.

The move to alternative fuels isn't going to happen overnight, but this weekend's Indy 500 may bring more attention to the issue than any previous event. NASCAR, which is considerably more popular than IRL, could actually change hearts and minds with a similar switch.

- Tim Lemke