Motor racing-Stewart bets on Mosley to win confidence vote

By Alan Baldwin

MONACO, May 23 (Reuters) - Triple Formula One world champion Jackie Stewart said on Friday he expected the sport's governing body to allow motor racing chief Max Mosley to stay in office despite being embroiled in a sex scandal.

The Scot, who has led calls for Mosley to resign, told Reuters he had bet $100 on the International Automobile Federation (FIA) president winning a confidence vote in Paris on June 3.

"I have got a bet on with somebody. I say that the FIA will not vote him out," the 68-year-old said at the Monaco Grand Prix.

"For a Scotsman, $100 is a lot of money...I'll gladly pay out if the other guy wins but I think it's wrong if I win," added Stewart.

Mosley has refused to stand down after Britain's News of the World tabloid printed details and photographs in March of him in what was described as a Nazi-style sado-masochistic orgy with prostitutes.

He has written to worldwide FIA members urging them to let him see out his term to October next year in the interests of the sport, while arguing that what he does in his private life is his own business.

The Monaco Grand Prix is the first Formula One race Mosley has attended this year, although FIA vice-president Marco Piccinini will represent the governing body at official functions.

Stewart, labelled a 'certified half-wit' by Mosley last year, has been a prominent critic of the Briton. He said the FIA should recruit a new chief executive from outside Formula One.