New chassis' could face chop

It is understood that team owners have reached a tentative agreement to put a freeze on new chassis for 2000 as a cost-cutting measure.

Walker Racing boss Derrick Walker said, 'Chassis these days are evolutionary rather than revolutionary. That means there's less need to go out and buy brand new cars at the beginning of every season, especially for new teams.

'We're probably the only racing series in the world which literally throws away £25million worth of chassis at the end of each season. The cars just go straight in the dustbin. That's ridiculous.'

Walker used the example of Patrick Racing driver Adrian Fernandez, who qualified on the front row for the opening round at Homestead in a year-old car. 'Top teams will continue to buy new cars, but there's no reason a team can't be competitive with older equipment,' he said.

There is no word yet from Champ Car organiser CART.