Speculation over possible Champ Car vacanciesFormer Formula One team owner Paul Stoddart will take the 'Minardi' name to the Champ Car grid in 2007.
With a statement and teleconference on Monday, it was confirmed that the Australian millionaire, who has bought a
controlling interest in the Indianapolis based CTE Racing - HVM squad with financial input from Holland, will field a "multi-car team" in the American open wheeler category under the banner 'Minardi Team USA'.
'Minardi' will also race in the GP2 series next year, but 51-year-old Stoddart - who sold the Faenza based Formula One squad to Toro Rosso last year - retains the right to use the name outside of Europe.
"All the day-to-day management will continue under Keith (Wiggins) and his highly skilled staff," Stoddart explained.
Grand Prix veteran Jos Verstappen is already being touted as a likely driver for Stoddart's Champ Car team, as is Katherine Legge, who once tested a Minardi F1 single seater and could be loaned out from PKV Racing.
Stoddart said: "Yes, there are negotiations going on but there will be no announcements this side of the new year."
Stoddart also said he was 'talking to' another Dutchman, Robert Doornbos, who is notably yet to agree a new test contract with Red Bull for the 2007 season.
Source GMM
