Aussie invasion continues in Champ Car

The Aussie invasion of the Champ Car World Series continued today when well-known Australian businessman Paul Stoddart announced be had purchased a controlling interest in the Indianapolis-based CTE Racing - HVM Champ Car team.

To be known as Minardi Team USA, the new-look operation has confirmed a minimum of two cars and a maximum of four for the 2007 season.

While drivers have not been confirmed at this stage, names such as Katherine Legge, former Minardi drivers Jos Verstappen and Robert Doornbos and current team drivers Nelson Philippe and Dan Clarke have been mentioned as possible candidates.

Stoddart is the latest Australian to become involved in the North-American open wheel series which enjoys its most successful event of the year at the Lexmark Indy 300 on Queensland's Gold Coast each October.

Other prominent Australians involved in the championship include series co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven, Team Australia co-owner Craig Gore and current drivers Will Power and Ryan Briscoe.

Stoddart comes to the Champ Car World Series after five seasons as the owner of the Minardi Formula 1 team, which enjoyed a 21-year F1 run from 1985-2005.

Stoddart will run the team, along with current CTE Racing - HVM owner Keith Wiggins, from the team's existing headquarters on Indianapolis' fabled Gasoline Alley.

Stoddart, who made the majority of his fortune in the aviation industry, got a first-hand look at the Champ Car World Series when he was a guest at the Lexmark Indy 300 at Surfers Paradise in October.

"After taking a year off from motor racing following the sale of Minardi, we've had a chance to consider our options and examine how we might want to be involved with the sport in the future," says Stoddart.

"After a lot of deliberation, we've come to the conclusion that Champ Car, with its blend of highly competitive, cost-effective racing and relatively level 'playing field', offers easily the best way forward."

Wiggins and Stoddart both have a reputation of "punching above their weight".

"This is an exciting progression for our company, which will allow us to take it to the next level" added Wiggins.

"It puts together all the elements we have established at HVM, continues the progress with the CTE program and adds the resources and talent that Minardi brings. The chemistry between Paul and I is extremely good and I am looking forward to the stable long-term future."

The newly-christened Minardi Team USA is coming off of a resurgent campaign in 2006 in which Philippe finished fourth in the series points, a high-water mark for the team even dating back to its years as Bettenhausen Racing.

Ironically, the team's best performance came at the Lexmark Indy 300 when Philippe took his maiden Champ Car win.

The announcement comes two days before the team, along with the rest of the Champ Car World Series, will take delivery of their first Panoz DP01 Champ Cars.

"The addition of an owner with a proven racing background like Paul Stoddart only strengthens the series," said Champ Car President Steve Johnson.

"Combining his experience and resources with a team that showed last year that it can win races, provides even more reason to be excited about Champ Car's future."

Information concerning the formation of Minardi Team USA, including drivers and sponsors, will be released in the coming weeks as the team prepares for the first open test of the 2007 season, which takes place on January 23-25 in Sebring, Florida.

-ChampCars World Series -