Milwaukee agrees deal to keep race until 2006.
Officials from Wisconsin State Fair Park and CART Champ Car have confirmed a new three-year operating agreement that will see the Bridgestone and Ford-backed series continue to race its 750hp Champ Cars at the historic Milwaukee Mile on its traditional date through to at least the 2006 racing season.
Within the new agreement, WSFP has acquired the rights from current venue operators Carl Haas Racing Teams Ltd - the promotional group at the Milwaukee Mile since just prior to 1992 - for this weekend's Milwaukee Mile Centennial 250 Presented by Miller Lite and Argent Mortgage.
Officials from Wisconsin State Fair Park and CART Champ Car have confirmed a new three-year operating agreement that will see the Bridgestone and Ford-backed series continue to race its 750hp Champ Cars at the historic Milwaukee Mile on its traditional date through to at least the 2006 racing season.
Within the new agreement, WSFP has acquired the rights from current venue operators Carl Haas Racing Teams Ltd - the promotional group at the Milwaukee Mile since just prior to 1992 - for this weekend's Milwaukee Mile Centennial 250 Presented by Miller Lite and Argent Mortgage.
"Since last year's race, the Wisconsin State Fair Park has made great strides by investing in the future of the Milwaukee Mile facility," said WSFP CEO Joe Chrnelich, "With The Mile's new grandstands, upgraded amenities and CART Champ Car's return under the lights, we are confident this race will be a success in 2003 and into the future."
The new agreement ensures that CART Champ Car will be the only major open-wheel series to run a race at the 'Mile' under the lights. This weekend's historic event marks the first ever Champ Car race to be contested at night, with Iowa-based Musco Lighting providing the illumination over the 1.032mile oval.
Additionally, the traditional post Memorial Day weekend date will be reserved exclusively for CART Champ Car, with no other open-wheel series permitted to run a race thirty days prior to or within thirty days after the annual Champ Car event.
"Wisconsin has the greatest racing fans and that's the way they should be treated," said WSFP board chairman Martin Greenberg, "These recent moves, along with the continuing enhancements allow our ticket buying public to be treated like VIPs."
The new contract was also welcomed by CART CEO Chris Pook, who had admitted in the past that the series needs to maintain its spread of road, street and oval races.
"The Milwaukee Mile is a key ingredient to the CART Champ Car urban racing formula, and we look forward to continuing the long Champ Car tradition here in Milwaukee," he said, "With a revitalised facility, CART's first ever night race with the help of Musco Lighting and a wing package that will return side-by-side racing to the oval, we are enthusiastic about our future here in Milwaukee."
