Texas Air, however, may have no choice but to go its own way, some competitors say.

"I don't believe our competitors can say the same thing."

But most other competitors have said such a move would be too costly.

"It's a small industry and everybody knows everyone else," a competitor said.

But competitors said the race was still worth the 31-year wait to reach official status.

But over the longer term, this will be difficult, analysts and competitors say.

Still, these young competitors often say they would prefer that their parents stay at home rather than add to the stress of race day.

Because the phone company is already in every home and office, competitors say, it would have a built-in advantage over other information services.

Competitors say it looks as if Buy.com has almost no profit margin in books.

But competitors say the most significant impact could be on Microsoft if it fails.