Champ Car/ALMS Tie-in Mooted

A new co-operation between the two championships has been widely rumoured in recent weeks, and CCWS co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven has admitted that talks with the ALMS were already in progress.

"There are discussions with ALMS to have a mutual benefit," he told SpeedTV.com's David Phillips. "Until we announce our schedule in early August, that's all I can say."

The two championships previously co-headlined events on the Miami street circuit in 2002 and 2003, before the focus of the ALMS calendar switched more towards traditional road circuits.

Reports suggest that the partnership could be reprised for races at Portland, Houston and Sebring in 2006. The Champ Car season could commence with a race on the Sebring 12 Hours bill in March.

The ALMS has struggled for numbers in its top-line prototype classes in recent years, but is about to be boosted by a works Porsche LMP2 entry, run by ex-Champ Car team Penske.

"ALMS seems to be growing in strength," said Kalkhoven. "I think the fact that Porsche wants in shows there is considerable interest in sportscar racing."