Salo confirmed at PK.

PK Racing has wasted little time in announcing its replacement for the recently-departed Max Papis, naming former Formula One star Mika Salo in its sole entry for this weekend's Grand Prix of Denver.

Salo, whose eight-season F1 career most recently included rides with Ferrari - where he filled in for an injured Michael Schumacher for six races in 1999 - Sauber and Toyota, was high on the rumoured occupancy list when the PK Racing project was launched in time for the 2003 season, but missed out at the beginning of the year to rookie Patrick Lemarie. The Finn will now make his Champ Car debut this weekend in the Centrix Financial Grand Prix on the downtown streets of Denver.

Salo, who was due to race in this year's Le Mans 24 Hours before his British-run Audi R8 ran out of fuel inside the opening two hours, becomes the fourth driver to represent Craig Pollock and Kevin Kalkhoven's fledgling team, following on from Lemarie, Papis and Bryan Herta, who made a one-off appearance at Laguna Seca.

"This is a learning year," Pollock commented when announcing the Finn's candidacy, "and following a very positive test with Mika in Mid-Ohio last Monday, both Kevin
and I have decided to bring him on board."

Having not raced much since quitting F1 at the end of last season, Salo is keen to get on with the job in Denver this weekend.

"I am excited to have this opportunity with PK Racing - I enjoyed the test at Mid-Ohio and have been getting to know the team since then," he commented, "It is a good group of people, and I think we will work very well together."

The Finn is also looking forward to making his debut on a tricky circuit and, having shown well in Monaco in recent seasons, sees no reason why he can't continue the team's run of top ten results this weekend.

"Street racing is my favourite, so I am looking forward to the upcoming events at Denver and Miami," he confirmed.

PK Racing has achieved a career-best result of fourth place this season, notched up by Papis in the rain-affected race at Road America. The Italian, who revealed that he was parting company with the team by mutual agreement, racked up four top ten results in his last five outings, lifting the team after a tough start to its maiden campaign.