Vegas, Phoenix may join calendar

Las Vegas City Council will meet tomorrow to vote on the 2.44-mile 14-turn course that has been devised at the North End of the Strip. Should it win approval, the race is likely to be held on April 6-8, possibly as the championship's season-opener.

Champ Car World Series co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven commented: "The situation is that if the City Council approve, then we are there. We have a promoter in place, and a Las Vegas Grand Prix would be a perfect fit for the series, and a perfect fit for Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world."

Meanwhile, Champ Car president Steve Johnson has admitted he is in talks with Phoenix city councillors.

"We are in negotiations with the city, and we are very interested in Phoenix," he told AZ Central. "As a matter of fact, our officials are going to be out there this week to talk to people."

A race in Arizona's capital city will probably be the final round of the season, and therefore a November event. Many of the Champ Car community have for some time expressed the opinion that a US-based series should hold its finale in the USA.

Mexico City is currently the last round of the championship, and has held this position four times in the last five years.

Champ Car is set also to announce the cancellation of the South Korean race, in Ansan, for the second year in succession.

A source who did not wish to be named stated that it is "due to a breakdown in communication with the race promoters... brought about by a breakdown in communication within the ranks of promoters."

It is thought Ansan is unlikely to appear on the 2007 schedule, and that its place will be taken in 2007 by a race in Zhuhai, China.