IndyCar News

Despite recent uncertainty over the viability of such a move, UE 'Pat' Patrick has officially confirmed that his Patrick Racing team will join the Indy Racing League, beginning at the 2004 Indianapolis 500.

After days of heated will he/won't he speculation, long time CART supporter Bobby Rahal has finally confirmed his total withdraw from the series, and that he will take his entire outfit to the rival IRL IndyCar championship, where he already has a team presence.

Infiniti Pro Series regular Marty Roth made the big decision to start his own team ahead of the 2004 campaign, but that move has now led to him undertaking his biggest challenge in racing to date - an entry in the 88th Indianapolis 500 this May. MC:

Academy Award-nominated actor Morgan Freeman will drive the 2004 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible pace car to lead the field to the start of the 88th Indianapolis 500 on Sunday 30 May.

Adrian Fernandez's decision to quit the Champ Car World Series and head for the rival Indy Racing League sent shock waves round both championships late last week - and also made the Mexican a natural target for a media corps wanting to know more about the move...

Infiniti Pro Series newcomer Roth Racing has filed an entry for this year's Indianapolis 500, with owner-driver Marty Roth looking to make his Indy Racing League graduation at the series biggest event.

Adrian Fernandez has pointed to a season launch that did not live up to promises and the lack of answers to vital questions as his reasons for quitting the OWRS-run Champ Car World Series and defecting to the rival Indy Racing League.

Adrian Fernandez's decision to join the Indy Racing League has been welcomed by chassis supplier Panoz G-Force, which will provide the popular Mexican with a car for his debut campaign.

Fernandez Racing has make the shock revelation that owner-driver Adrian Fernandez will compete in the 2004 IRL Series rather than the OWRS-run Champ Car World Series.

Menards Infiniti Pro Series owner-driver Gary Peterson announced that his team would make its 2004 season debut in Phoenix next week, and may expand to run two cars later in the season.

Champ Car races have a new home for television coverage this year, as Spike TV , one of the MTV networks, will telecast the entire 16-race schedule for the first time, starting with the season-opening Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on 18 April.

Indianapolis 500 veteran Robby Gordon has announced plans to run in this year's 88th Indy 500, but as an owner-driver sponsored by mid-west retail chain Meijer rather than finding a seat in an established team as has been his route in previous years.

In an effort to make for more competition on the race track and increase passing opportunities for the drivers, the Champ Car World Series and Cosworth Racing have announced that they have developed a 'push to pass' mechanism for the Ford-Cosworth XFE racing engines in 2004.

More young American drivers winning races is the generally agreed-upon formula for jump-starting the re-birth of open wheel road racing in the USA - but one need look no further than Lynx Racing's Bryan Sellers to see the next American Champ Car star.

Rocketsports Racing driver Alex Tagliani will run the #8 Rocketsports/Johnson Controls Lola in the 2004 Champ Car World Series, having dropped the number 33, which he was given at the start of his Champ Car career for the favourable single digit.

It is no coincidence that a Champ Car World Series driver refers to his car as a rocketship on those weekends when he and his team find themselves at the head of the pack.

Newman/Haas Racing revealed its 2004 team colours during the Champ Car Preview in Long Beach, and confirmed that Bruno Junqueira and Sebastian Bourdais would return as its drivers.

The wait is over, as Champ Car has finally put out its 2004 schedule, confirming the return of most of the series' past venues, along with one new international race.

Before the PGA Golf Tour stars teed off for the second annual Ford Championship at Doral in Miami yesterday, Champ Car's Pace Car Team joined the Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure Tour and a host of Ford NASCAR drivers to show PGA standout Phil Mickelson and a dozen other Tour professionals some high

Jeff Britton, formerly race engineer for Access Motorsports and one of the original members of Greg Ray's IndyCar Series team, has been granted his release by the team in order to pursue other opportunities.

Louie Unser, who was chief mechanic on two of his brothers' cars when they made their debuts in the Indianapolis 500, has died at the age of 71.

CENTRIX Financial, LLC (CENTRIX), a financial management and services firm, announced today that a wholly-owned subsidiary intends to enter into an agreement to acquire assets and rights to the Grand Prix of Denver from the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, Inc.

Jim McGee, (Jim McGee, Pat Patrick, Jimmy Vasser L-R) widely recognized as one of the most successful team managers or chief mechanics in Champ or Indy car history, has returned to Newman/Haas Racing (NHR) as the director of special operations.

Rocketsports Racing has welcomed crew chief Robin Hill to the 2004 Champ Car team. Hill has an impressive history as chief mechanic for some of Champ Car's greatest champion teams and drivers.