Drivers swap steering for strikes in charity bowl.

Earlier this week IRL IndyCar Series drivers Scott Dixon, Sarah Fisher and Sam Hornish Jr. swapped racing overalls for bowling shoes as they participated in the "PeyBack Bowl" at Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis in a charity event set-up by pro-footballer Peyton Manning.

The bowling event, which raised more than $100,000 for the PeyBack Foundation, a charity set up by Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, was attended by several other celebrities including Colts players Marvin Harrison and Edgerrin James, Indiana Pacers star Reggie Miller, country music star Kenny Chesney and rock star John Mellencamp and his wife, Elaine, former spokeswoman for the IRL.

"I think it's awesome to be able to help," Fisher said. "The fact that we can all get together and help out is something I'm proud to be a part of."

While Dixon was happy to help out, he admitted that the sport the event was centred around was not his forte.

"It's good that it's for charity, but I definitely won't be taking up bowling up as a sport," Dixon said. "I started good early with a strike, but I pretty much went downhill. This is probably the second time I've bowled in a good six years. I'm a little rusty.

"It's good to be here. Peyton's got a lot of his friends here, and it's going to raise a lot of money and help things out."

Hornish was the most experienced bowler of the group and routinely bowls with his friends in his hometown of Defiance, Ohio. However, he wasn't quite on his game in Indianapolis. Despite that, Hornish's team finished third in the competition.

"I didn't bowl very well," Hornish said. "I'm not good enough to be a professional, but I'm working on it. Maybe after racing I'll be a retired professional."

Hornish admitted that participating in the charity event helped take his mind off of the decision about his future driving plans. He and Panther Racing announced on Monday that they would part ways at the end of the 2003 season. Hornish has said that he hopes to make a decision on his future in by the end of August.

"I've signed some autographs and everyone's asked what I'm doing," Hornish said. "But, it does take my mind off of it a little bit. Anytime I get to do something for fundraising and get to meet some people I wouldn't get to normally meet, it's pretty much a win in all ways."

While bowling was a break for Hornish, the fact remained that several people are interested in what the future holds for him. He said his cell phone indicated he has talked on the phone about 15 hours, or 900 minutes in the last five days.

"The other day when I came home from Indianapolis I had my phone off," Hornish said. "When I got home I had 28 voicemails, so it was kind of a busy day."