Track mods mean Texas race will go ahead

Safety concerns had been raised after several drivers a tested at the 1.5-mile banked oval, and speculation had mounted that a drivers' strike could take place. But after receiving assurances from the race's organisers, Championship Drivers Association president Mauricio Gugelmin says the race will take place.

"The way I understand it, everything that we requested to be changed will be fulfilled before we race there," the Brazilian told Speedvision.com. "There is no question of the drivers boycotting this event."

Edie Gossage, TMS's track manager, said he fully expected changes to be requested when a track hosts a race for the first time and that most modifications had been routine.

The most significant alteration is a request for a barrier to shield the pit lane from spinning cars on the infield. Gossage said he did not agree that such a thing was necessary, but would comply with any request from CART to erect a temporary barrier.

Some CART insiders believe that the Texas race may be removed from the 2002 schedule, regardless of the success or otherwise of the inaugural event.

Newman-Haas star Christian Fittipaldi has visited the Euro Speedway Lausitz in Germany, host to the first leg of CART's two-race European tour in September.

The Brazilian, who did several laps of the track in a road car, said he was impressed by the scale and layout of the facility.

CART will not allow testing on the oval prior to the September 15 race, but Fittipaldi said he did not think the teams would have problems in finding workable set-ups.