IndyCar News

Long-time race sponsor GI Joe's has refused to commit money to any Champ Car event at Portland International Raceway in 2004 until definite news of the series' future is received.

Duane Sweeney, who waved the chequered flag as the chief starter when Al Unser and Rick Mears each won the Indianapolis 500 for a fourth time, died earlier this week at his home in Wisconsin. He was 81.

Super Aguri Fern?ndez Racing today announced that 24-year-old Kosuke Matsuura of Aichi, Japan, will pilot its #55 Panasonic ARTA Honda-powered Panoz G Force/Firestone entry in the 2004 IRL IndyCar Series.

Andretti Green Racing announced today it has reached an agreement with the Archipelago Exchange [ArcaEx] to become a major sponsor on Dario Franchitti's #27 Honda-powered Dallara during the 2004 Indy Racing League IndyCar(TM) Series season.

Johnson Controls has announced its continued sponsorship of Paul Gentilozzi's Rocketsports Racing in the 2004 Champ Car World Series, where it is expected to appear on the car driven by the recently re-signed Alex Tagliani.

RuSPORT technical director Gerald Tyler has left the team, leaving a valuable piece missing from the set-up ahead of its proposed participation in this year's revived Champ Car World Series..

Purex Detergents has confirmed that it will return as the co-primary sponsor of the #24 entry fielded by Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in the 2004 IRL IndyCar Series.

Red Bull Cheever Racing has confirmed that it will revert to a two-car team for this year's IRL IndyCar Series season, with Alex Barron driving the #52 entry and rookie Ed Carpenter the #51.

Despite a comprehensive review of Tony Renna's fatal accident at Indianapolis Motor Speedway two months ago, Indy Racing League officials have admitted that the reasons for the crash remain uncertain.

Key chassis and engine changes for Indy Racing League IndyCar Series cars, highlighted by a reduction in engine size from 3.5 litres to three litres, will be made in 2004 starting at the 88th Indianapolis 500 in May in an effort to reduce speeds and ensure safer and exciting racing, IRL officials

Indy Racing League team owner Tom Kelley has revealed that communications industry leader Rick Weidinger has invested in, and acquired, a minority interest in Kelley Racing ahead of the 2004 IndyCar season.

CART CEO and president Chris Pook has admitted that, while disappointed to see the initial rescue plan for the series fall by the wayside, he is happy with the new agreement with Open Wheel Racing Series that should see the Champ Car World Series run in 2004.

Just days after it reported the untimely deaths of two stalwart employees, Indianapolis Motor Speedway has had to add the name of James 'Jim' Phillippe to the list.

Sam Schmidt Motorsports continued its pre-season preparations by staging an Infiniti Pro Series and Indy Racing League test at the 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway this week - but most of the attention was taken by a rather special occupant of the cockpit.

Emerson Fittipaldi is the latest former driver being linked to a possible buy-out of 'Pat' Patrick's eponymous Champ Car team, as the veteran team owner seeks a way out of the series.

The Snap-On Champ Car Stars of Tomorrow national karting series has unveiled an exciting 2004 schedule that includes some of the most legendary race tracks in America as well as new facilities and a special international marquee event.

Stefan Johansson has revealed that he is no longer associated with the Champ Car team which raced under the name American Spirit Team Johansson in 2003, having decided to look elsewhere for an involvement in the sport.

Several of the leading IRL IndyCar Series teams got an early taste of the reconfigured Homestead-Miami Speedway last week as the series begins to finalise and tweak the final rules package for the vastly different 1.5-mile Florida oval.

Continuing an innovative partnership designed to provide generations of open-wheel and Indy 500 fans with high-quality home entertainment products, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IMS Productions and Shoreline Media Group (SMG) have announced the next addition to the highly popular Indianapolis

Last week's episode of the CBS crime drama CSI: Miami, filmed on location at the Grand Prix Americas Presented by Sportsbook.com in late September, turned South Florida's streets into a 200 mph blur with thoroughbred Champ Cars screaming through downtown as a high-profile Hollywood murder mystery

The yet to be constructed Unser family racing museum in New Mexico has had its future exhibitions increased by one after the project's founder, Al Unser came away from Vince Granatelli's auction with another prominent Indycar for his collection.

Reigning IRL IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon and 2001 Bombardier Rookie of the Year Felipe Giaffone competed in Juan and Connie Montoya's charity go-kart event last Saturday in Cartagena, Colombia.

Rocketsports' driver, Alex Tagliani will lend his support to karting in Canada at the Mosport Kart Club 2003 Banquet of Champions this coming Saturday at the Holiday Inn, Oshawa.

Actor-racer Jason Priestley has finally decided to abandon his on-track ambitions, but admits that it was not his own massive smash that finally convinced him that his future lay away from racing.