Heitzler named chairman of CART board.

Championship Auto Racing Teams president and CEO Joseph Heitzler has been named chairman of the board of directors for the open-wheel racing sanctioning organisation.

The announcement was made by acting CART chairman and board member James Hardymon.

"I am very pleased to be able to make this announcement," Hardymon said, "I view Joe's commitment to building the CART organisation and its racing product as an asset to the company. We look forward to Joe's leadership and direction at the board level."

Heitzler joined CART last December as the company's President and CEO.

"I am honoured to be named to lead the CART board of directors," he admitted, "I am particularly pleased to be working with all the talented and committed people who are dedicated to building CART racing. I believe that the opportunities for growth and expansion of our sport are numerous, and it is the mission of those of us on the Board to lead CART to future successes.

"Also, on behalf of all the board members, I want to thank Jim Hardymon for his dedication and hard work, serving in the capacity of chairman of the board for the past year."

The CART board of directors is comprised of CART Champcar team owners Gerald Forsythe, Chip Ganassi, Barry Green, Carl Haas, UE 'Pat' Patrick and Derrick Walker, as well as James Henderson, Bert Roberts Jr and Fred Tucker, all of whom join Hardymon and Heitzler on the board.