F1 governing body bans BMW's 'Twin Tower' wings

Formula One's governing body has banned on safety grounds the radical-looking 'Twin Tower' vertical front wings used by BMW Sauber at this month's French Grand Prix. The FIA wrote to all 11 teams after the race at Magny-Cours expressing concern that such devices "may impair the forward and/or lateral vision of the driver".

The controversial wings passed pre-race inspections in France but BMW team boss Mario Theissen accepted yesterday that the team would not be allowed to use them at this weekend's German Grand Prix.

"The vertical wings obviously presented a new aero solution within the rules," he said in a statement. "We, however, respect the FIA's decision to ban such elements."

The two vertical white fins on the nose of the BMW car were dubbed the 'Twin Towers' as a nod to the Kuala Lumpur skyscrapers owned by Malaysian oil giant and team sponsor Petronas.

¤Andy Roddick named Jimmy Connors as his new tennis coach as the former world no.1 looks to rekindle his career. Roddick, the 2003 US Open champion and runner-up at Wimbledon in 2004 and 2005, has not won a title this year and slipped out of the top 10 rankings for the first time since 2002. Connors, one of tennis's most fiery competitors, said he wanted to instil some of his famed intensity in Roddick and help lead him back to the top of the world rankings.