Indianapolis gets June date for '04

Formula One Management (FOM) has agreed to run the US GP on June 20 next year, subject to the approval of the National Sporting Authority, the Automobile Competition Committee for the United States (ACCUS), the FIA Formula One Commission and the FIA World Motor Sport Council.

Though the fourth running of the United States Grand Prix is next month(September 28), track officials wanted to make the 2004 date change official due to the event's significant impact.

"This is exciting news for race fans, for IMS and for the city of Indianapolis," said Indy boss Tony George. "This new summer date will be good for travellers, both US and international. If the FIA keeps its other traditional dates, this will set up a North American swing for F1."

The FIA and FOM have released a 2004 schedule with only dates, rather than venues as usual.

George added: "The United States Grand Prix is an international sporting event that not only has a prominent place on the world motorsports calendar, it is major event here in the state of Indiana. This change could impact several events regionally, so we wanted to make it official immediately."