Senna's death may be treated as homicide

>From the Associated Press

BOLOGNA, ITALY - As Italian authorities served notice that his death may be treated as a possible homicide, the body of Ayrton Senna departed Tuesday for Brazil accompanied by reverence usually associated with a fallen head of state.

Technical crews in England poured over the information from the "black box" data-logging system from Senna's car, while Italian authorities investigating the crash that killed him continue their investigation.

Federico Bendinelli, managing director of the Sagis company that owns Imola autodrome, was formally told by police that he was being investigated. Court sources in Bologna said that other track officials would be similarly notified.

The investigation was based on the possiblity that the notoriously fast Imola track played a role in the spate of crashes during the Grand prix weekend.

Race organizers abruptly cancelled a scheduled news conference, claimimg they would not speak while the investigation continued. Officials with the International Auto racing Federation (FIA), the sports governing body, reiterated that the track had passed a safety check last week.

At the Bologna airport, Italian police lined the pathways and presented arms to Senna as the three-time world champion's coffin was placed on an Italian air force plane for a flight to Paris.

>From there, Senna was to be transported on a regularly scheduled overnight flight to his home town of Sao Paolo.

"I hope the murder of Imola is punished", said Italian Defense Minister Fabio Fabbri at a political rally in Venice. "The Formula One world is worse than the gladiator's circus."

Fabbri joined the chorus after one of the most tragic weekends in Formula One history. Austrian rookie Roland Ratzenberger also died in a crash during Saturday's qualifying. Michael Stucker | stucker@sugar-land.anadrill.slb.com Anadrill Schlumberger | You don't want to know Anadrill's opinion. Sugar Land, Texas | Schumacher, Mi.Andretti, D.Waltrip, Nannini ---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Thirty million quid to spend at the start of the season? That's a bloomin' fantasy alright." - Ken Tyrrell on Autosport's Fantasy GP