by Lynne Huntting

The 2008 Champ Car schedule was announced at the start of the week, boasting 14 races and, among them, a third outing in Europe, creating a sense of optimism in a series that has been dogged by rumours about its future this season.

Speaking to Steve Johnson at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez confirmed that impression, although the CEO and president was not giving too much away when asked about the future line-up for those 14 races.

“There is stability in the schedule, and I want to instil confidence in the schedule,” he said, before declining to answer rumours about races being added or the calendar altered, “I don't comment on contracts, or on the comings and goings of teams.”

In the past, contracts with venues have stipulated a minimum number of cars to be fielded, and the possibility is that there may be fewer than the current 17 drivers competing next season, with rampant rumours about teams leaving, expanding, and the like. Johnson, however, said he knew that RuSPORT was leaving and knew of no new teams joining the series, but that was all he was prepared to allow.

He did confirm that the series' TV package would be announced 'soon', claiming that the CCWS has contracts with both ABC and ESPN. When it was pointed out that there will be nine weekends where Champ Car conflicts with the rival Indy Racing League - which airs live on ABC and ESPN - Johnson admitted that his series could run on the alternate network. Most of the other IRL dates, he then stressed, are before Champ Car starts, while its season ends before the last three CCWS events.

A confirmed TV package is key to attracting a potential title sponsor for the series, something that Champ Car has lacked this year.

“We are always looking for a sponsor, keeping an open dialogue, and not waiting for the sponsors to come to us,” Johnson insisted, before admitting that he has been very happy with this year's associate sponsorship with Bridgestone, a former title sponsor, “Bridgestone has been a great partner, and doing more than when they were the title sponsor of Champ Car.”

Returning to the 2008 schedule, the addition of Jerez in Spain caught many by surprise, with Britain, France and Germany the expected favourites to join Belgium and Holland on the European leg, but came about because it showed that it 'wanted' the series.

Champ Car's vice-president of development, John Clagett, travelled Europe for a month looking at various venues, and confirmed that Jerez was picked because the promoters were interested in having a Champ Car race.