Champ Car circuit returning to LVMS

Friday, Oct. 29, 2004 | 10:14 a.m.

2005 Champ Car World Series

April 10 - Long Beach

May 22 - Monterrey, Mexico

June 4 - Milwaukee

June 19 - Portland

June 26 - Cleveland

July 10 - Toronto

July 17 - Edmonton

July 31 - Silicon Valley, Calif.

Aug. 14 - Denver

Aug. 28 - Montreal

Sept. 24 - Las Vegas

Oct. 16 - Korea

Oct. 23 - Australia

Nov. 6 - Mexico City

The Champ Car World Series, which made its inaugural visit to Las Vegas Motor Speedway last month, will return to the 1.5-mile oval in 2005, series officials announced Thursday.

Although final details of the agreement still have to be worked out, the 2005 Champ Car race at LVMS will be on Saturday night, Sept. 24, and again will share billing with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. This year's racing doubleheader attracted a crowd estimated at 80,000.

"We're in the final stages of our deal discussions with (LVMS officials)," Champ Car vice president Joe Chrnelich said. "They have not been completed, but I can tell you with most certainty based on the progress (and) positive discussions we have had on Las Vegas, we'll be in Las Vegas in '05.

"We see a lot of good opportunities for us to forge ahead with that relationship in the Las Vegas market moving forward."

Champ Car announced a 14-race schedule for 2005 that includes three new races in Northern California's Silicon Valley, South Korea and Edmonton, Alberta. Those events are expected to replace races in Monterey, Calif., Vancouver, British Columbia, and at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., although Chrnelich said the series still continuing negotiations with those venues.

Chrnelich did not announce a location for the Silicon Valley race, but San Jose is believed to be the leading candidate.

Dick Eidswick, Champ Car president and CEO, said Thursday that the 2005 schedule could expand to as many as 16 races as the series continues to negotiate sanctioning agreements with several venues.

"Our schedule is still a work in progress," Eidswick said. "This is the starting line that we're announcing today, not the finishing line. We're still continuing conversations with a number of potential venues for the 2005 season and expect further additions for a schedule."

Eidswick also said the series would announce its television package next month. Spike TV televised the series' race on a tape-delayed basis this season but Eidswick said Champ Car would have "different TV partners next year."

Barring additional races, the 2005 season will open April 10 in Long Beach, Calif. and conclude Nov. 6 in Mexico City.